by: Eric Grandy
Genre: Coming of Age
Release Date: October 1, 2025
Publisher: Audecyn Books
Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?
Accidental Paradise begins when LaVern is ten years old and she lives across the street from her best friend, Shaundra Jackson, in a row house in East Baltimore. It follows her through high school, performing arts college, six years as a struggling, off off Broadway performer, then her big break that makes her a Hollywood star. Her childhood friend, Shaundra, is her mental and emotional crutch through all the years of trials and tribulations.
Reclusive by nature, the constant glare of notoriety causes her to seek a quiet, peaceful place away from the limelight. She and Shaundra find an isolated, under-the-radar vacation community on the South Carolina coast where she can mix and mingle unrecognized. Both soon realize the true value of this tight knit community. It is mostly Black whose history goes back to its founding in 1870 by newly freed slaves. Some descendants of the original founders still live there. Citizens are proud of their legacy of self-reliance, prosperity and ownership of property and businesses. They even have plans to build their own history museum. LaVern and Shaundra are enthralled and inspired by all they experience there. As LaVern marveled one day, “this is a Black owned and operated municipality that is thriving”. This small town becomes their yearly get away.
Danger arrives when a greedy, unscrupulous land developer wants to, despite the wishes of the townspeople, buy up all the private land to build luxurious, seaside condos. He is prepared to use every legal, illegal and unethical device at his disposal. The proud citizens close ranks and fight back, like LaVern states to Shaundra over the phone, “a momma bear protecting her cubs.” LaVern, against her timid nature, joins the fight to save her adopted town because she is now one of them.
“I’m going to miss you so much sweetheart. I’m so proud of you.”
The tears began to flow.
“I’m going to miss you too, Mom.”
“I miss you already, Peaches,” cried Shaundra. “You better text me every day.”
LaVern broke her tight hold on her mother and transferred it to Shaundra.
“I told you a long time ago that nothing will ever come between us. I meant it then and I mean it now.” She clutched her best friend even tighter. Then it was Freeman’s turn. He’d been holding off his goodbye intentionally. He wrapped his arms around his daughter and held on. He rested his chin on her head. LaVern was sobbing uncontrollably, but she didn’t let go. He finally relaxed his grip and looked directly into LaVern’s crying eyes.
“I want you to know you have made your mother and me so proud, Peaches.” He wiped a tear from his daughter’s face with his thumb. “You’re ready for this. You’ve been preparing your whole life.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much.”
He released his daughter, picked up the luggage and, along with everyone else, headed outside. LaVern turned to take one last look. The realization that she wouldn’t be back for months was just hitting her. It’s really happening, she thought. I’m actually leaving. She closed and locked the door. The second part of her life was about to begin.
The tears began to flow.
“I’m going to miss you too, Mom.”
“I miss you already, Peaches,” cried Shaundra. “You better text me every day.”
LaVern broke her tight hold on her mother and transferred it to Shaundra.
“I told you a long time ago that nothing will ever come between us. I meant it then and I mean it now.” She clutched her best friend even tighter. Then it was Freeman’s turn. He’d been holding off his goodbye intentionally. He wrapped his arms around his daughter and held on. He rested his chin on her head. LaVern was sobbing uncontrollably, but she didn’t let go. He finally relaxed his grip and looked directly into LaVern’s crying eyes.
“I want you to know you have made your mother and me so proud, Peaches.” He wiped a tear from his daughter’s face with his thumb. “You’re ready for this. You’ve been preparing your whole life.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much.”
He released his daughter, picked up the luggage and, along with everyone else, headed outside. LaVern turned to take one last look. The realization that she wouldn’t be back for months was just hitting her. It’s really happening, she thought. I’m actually leaving. She closed and locked the door. The second part of her life was about to begin.
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Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.
You can follow the Accidental Paradise Blog Tour here.
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