3 Books Published by NIB Karatasi Press on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Winter has come in a most terrifying way for Cecily Brooks, making the cold the least of her worries. Broken Benevolence is a suspenseful story of resilience in the face of mounting adversity.
After suffering a vicious attack years ago, Cecily still lives and breathes in the debilitating world of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Nearly every day is a reminder punctuated by episodes of fear and confusion, anger and withdrawal. She seeks solace and support from her husband, Oscar—but little is forthcoming. Oscar hasn’t time to worry about Cecily, when so many of his plans and dreams are falling by the wayside; plans that don’t necessarily include Cecily.
Two are definitely not one in the Brooks household, but it’s all Cecily has. Or so she believes anyway.
Cecily’s job as a finance consultant is the only bright spot; it’s the one place free of fear and hostility. But with Cecily’s boss, Joshua Hall, even that has its own rather interesting complications …
A PTSD attack finds Cecily needing therapy once again, and through trauma counseling with psychiatrist, Dr. Naomi Alexander, Oscar and Cecily deal with many factors affecting Cecily’s troubles. Oscar, however, proves a challenge every step of the way. But he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with: Dr. Alexander thrives on challenges.
Broken and full of shame and despair, Cecily feels she’s heard it all in therapy before. Only this time, the chair is yellow—and the results will be different. Naomi pulls few punches as Cecily’s sessions are exercises in pain and confusion and regret and … revelation.
Cecily’s revelations, however, may be too late: Oscar’s plans are in motion …
Broken Benevolence is a cozy read for fans of stories about relationships and the dark and light in everyday life.

About the series:

• Dr. Naomi Alexander, a psychiatrist, is the central and continuing fictional character in several works as she treats patients with varying degrees of psychological stress or trauma (not including her own). Plenty is revealed on her yellow counsel couch. It’s mostly painful—but that’s what they’re there for.
• Diminutive and with a gun close by, Naomi has a working relationship with the distilled beverages, and has a straightforward approach to all things other than her personal life.
• Woven with recurring details unique to the series for fans of a little word-sleuthing, the novels explore perspectives from both sides of the couch, with elements of tension and angst and passion and laughter and interesting snapshots of the human drama that is life—all flavored with gems of music.

First-place winner of the Black Expressions Fiction contest, Like Sweet Buttermilk is an erotically-charged exploration of infidelity, murder, and therapy, in a love story revisited.

Psychiatrist, Dr. Naomi Alexander, has a no-nonsense approach to everything—except her personal life. Still mourning her murdered husband, Naomi shares a shameful secret with her daughter.

And for the first time in years, she has an intriguing case …

Rick Phillips is a successful man leading what seems to be a comfortable married-life with his wife, Viv, and their daughter. Family is everything. But Viv reveals she’s seeing someone else—and Rick’s determination to make things right again leads him down a disastrous path, changing him from a boring suburban husband into a spontaneous man with an intense, adventurous edge. An edge his wife is steadily warming up to …

Through marriage counseling with Dr. Alexander, with rounds of surprising disclosure for all in session, Rick and Viv begin to salvage their marriage and events lead to the couple finding renewed passion for each other. Everything is back on track and moving sexily along for the couple as they recapture much of what had been lost recently.

Naomi, however, knows everything is not as lovely as it appears. Rick’s irrational devotion to family and recent changes in personality have Naomi worried for Viv’s safety. The no-nonsense psychiatrist becomes the reluctant semi-detective, realizing … Viv may be in danger—from the one person she trusts most.

Ideal for fans of suspense and books exploring the hidden dynamics of interpersonal relationships, Like Sweet Buttermilk, a story of betrayal, deception, and love, probes the emotional boundaries within what appears to be an ordinary marital situation.

About the series:

• Dr. Naomi Alexander, a psychiatrist, is the central and continuing fictional character in several works as she treats patients with varying degrees of psychological stress or trauma (not including her own). Plenty is revealed on her yellow counsel couch. It’s mostly painful—but that’s what they’re there for.
• Diminutive and with a gun close by, Naomi has a working relationship with the distilled beverages, and has a straightforward approach to all things other than her personal life.
• Woven with recurring details unique to the series for fans of a little word-sleuthing, the novels explore perspectives from both sides of the couch, with elements of tension and angst and passion and laughter and interesting snapshots of the human drama that is life—all flavored with gems of music both oldies and goodies, be it R&B, Soul, Classical, Gospel, or others.

With Obscure Boundaries, S.F. Powell explores the isolation of grief and its impact on a family trying to heal, adding an ’evil’ stepmother for good measure.

Psychiatrist, Dr. Naomi Alexander, delves into territory close to home while treating a family in mourning.
Julia Winthrop has died, leaving her husband, Jeff, and their two children, Mallory and Todd, to carry on without her.

When Jeff remarries, the Winthrops make a go at starting a new life with Ruth, but it isn’t easy, and the family seeks help from a familiar family therapist.

However, there are sides to Ruth not apparent to those involved—except maybe Naomi. She can see right through the woman’s facade, despite all the pleasant words and religious presentation.

Mallory and her brother have a hard time accepting Ruth into the family, for good reason. Ruth is not at all interested in being a "mother" to her stepchildren, and while hiding this fact from Jeff, she has no problem showing one of the Winthrop children exactly where she stands. And now she wants to spread the ’love.’

Through grief counseling with Dr. Alexander, the Winthrops fight to move beyond the sadness, working through many issues affecting their family. From her place in her yellow counsel chair, Naomi observes behaviors in their sessions and knows something is off between Ruth and the Winthrop children. She needs to get Jeff well; the sooner the better.

But Naomi’s efforts must address a confounding dilemma: Jeff believes Julia is still with them—and not just "in spirit." And there are signs he might be right …

When problems with Ruth escalate (unbeknownst to Jeff), Naomi realizes time may be running out.

Dr. Alexander does what she does best to provide a little help in opening Jeff’s eyes to the "truth of Ruth."
Fans of contemporary fiction will appreciate this tale on loss and step-parenting, with elements of tension, humor, sarcasm, and drama.

About the series:

• Dr. Naomi Alexander, a psychiatrist, is the central and continuing fictional character in several works as she treats patients with varying degrees of psychological stress or trauma (not including her own). Plenty is revealed on her yellow counsel couch. It’s mostly painful—but that’s what they’re there for.
• Diminutive and with a gun close by, Naomi has a working relationship with the distilled beverages, and has a straightforward approach to all things other than her personal life.
• Woven with recurring details unique to the series for fans of a little word-sleuthing, the novels explore perspectives from both sides of the couch, with elements of tension and angst and passion and laughter and interesting snapshots of the human drama that is life—all flavored with gems of music both oldies and goodies, be it R&B, Soul, Classical, Gospel, or others.