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A beautiful, savvy, and intelligent woman of color, Carmel Delarue has just landed the job of her dreams – and although she doesn’t know it yet, she could land the man of her dreams as well.

As she works her way up the corporate ladder, she shows herself to be a team player with innovative and well-thought-out plans for achieving her goals. Nevertheless, her personal life challenges her abilities as she is “Chased” by one unsuitable admirer after another. There is Randall, who is married with persistent, lustful intentions. And there is Craig, a former lover on the rebound. Finally, there is Durrell Chase, her boss!

Although she vows to herself that she will remain professional at all costs, Carmel finds herself in the inevitable position of developing a powerful attraction for Chase.

Romantically suspenseful, with unexpected developments and near-misses of the heart, author Henrietta D. Elmore-Smith gives us a peek into the life of a woman who is “Chased” for more than just her looks.

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In the late 1970s, families of color began their transition into neighborhoods distinctly and traditionally new to them. The same was so for Berkeley Hills, a prim community that dwells outside Berkeley, California. It’s where three young girls formed a steady friendship that was marked by devotion, trust, promises, secrets, and fire.

Mashé Boston, Rhial Curry, and Eila Wynston lived on the same block. In addition to race as their common thread, they shared many qualities that bonded them indefinitely—Mashé, the virtuous one; Rhial, characterized as unassuming; and Eila, moderately eccentric. From elementary school to college at the University of Miami, and into adulthood, nothing and no one cleaved their bond. Mashé pursued the humanities; Rhial had the aptitude for high-end marketing; and Eila sought an opportunity in city government. With the occasional challenges that come with life, coupled with their similarities and differences, their relationship was virtually invincible until it was time to plan a lavish wedding.

Mashé, Rhial, and Eila were tossed into an emotional whirlpool. The events that followed had all the makings for combustion. The biggest challenge was who was to blame. They preferred to empower themselves to resolve this flaring development without the intervention of outsiders.

In Black Cherry, author Henrietta D. Elmore-Smith has created a saga defining the true characteristics of friendship. When those characteristics are tested, who will withstand the trials?

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BLUEINK REVIEW

CHASED

Henrietta D. Elmore-Smith, Author

Publisher: Archway Publishing Pages: 386 Price: (paperback) $24.99 ISBN: 9781665758550

Reviewed: April, 2025

Author Website: Visit »

Set against the backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area, Henrietta D. Elmore-Smith’s novel follows the romantic highs and lows of a 30-something executive specialist whose ambition is as striking as her beauty.

Carmel Delarue is moving up in the corporate world. She’s landed a job at Brown, Sutton, and Dawson, a leading management systems consulting company. As an educated black woman navigating a male-dominated, racially homogenous industry, Carmel believes this opportunity will finally pave the way for career advancement.

But soon, Carmel faces a handsome distraction: her boss, Durrell Chase. Hoping to squash her growing attraction to him, she tries to focus on other prospects in her dating orbit, only to be pursued by men with emotional baggage. There’s Randall Reese, a real estate attorney going through a messy divorce, and rising NFL star Craig, her former high school boyfriend. Like Durrell, Randall and Craig are drawn to Carmel’s innocence, integrity, drive, femininity, and looks. Both men have their appeal, but Carmel’s heart beats strongest—and loudest—for Durrell. Can she keep their relationship strictly professional, or will she ruin her carefully constructed facade?

KIRKUS REVIEW OF CHASED.

CHASED Henrietta D. Elmore-Smith BOOK REVIEW An ambitious woman rises through the corporate world while juggling suitors in Elmore-Smith’s novel. Carmel Delarue is a beautiful, intelligent, and driven woman of color. While her similarly successful friend and coworker Toija has a new man on her arm every week, Carmel is determined to ascend the corporate ladder without any outside distractions––especially dating. While on her way to an important job interview, she gets into a fender bender with a handsome yet infuriating man—who turns out to be the executive vice president of the company she’s applying to work for. Sparks fly when the two meet again during her interview (“I think I have blown my chances here”), but Carmel maintains her professionalism. As she navigates the competitive corporate world, Carmel quickly proves herself to be a standout, bringing innovation, determination, and grace to every challenge. But while her career is on the rise, her personal life is far more complicated: Randall, an ex-boyfriend, wants a second chance; Carmel isn’t interested, but Randall won’t give up so easily. There is also Craig, a former flame who still lingers in her thoughts, and Durrell Chase, her charming boss. She is most drawn to Chase, who challenges her ironclad control every day at work. With suspense, romantic tension, and richly drawn characters, the novel offers a vivid portrait of a modern woman striving to have it all. The premise of a woman balancing career ambitions with complex personal relationships is a familiar but enduringly relevant theme, and the plot effectively establishes Carmel as a character readers will want to root for. Toija is similarly well rendered, with her contrasting approach to life providing a foil to Carmel that adds fun and humor to the narrative. However, the clunky prose sometimes leans too heavily on description and telling rather than showing.