Passport Diaries: A Novel

by Tamara Gregory Narrated by Myra Taylor

Overview

Kia Carson, a Los Angeles district attorney with beauty, brains, taste, and style, is about to turn thirty-five. There's just one problem with her picture-perfect life-she's not got one eligible man in sight. Well, thank God she has her career . . . at least until she gets suspended from her job. To regain her sense of purpose, she plans a restorative girl's night out-all the way to Europe.

In this fresh and funny Los Angeles Times bestseller, Kia embarks on what becomes a defining journey to London, Paris, and Greece, where she finds a little bit of trouble, a whole lot of laughs, and what she didn't even know she was looking for-herself.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Hollywood producer Gregory's fun-filled debut introduces stylish L.A. lawyer Kia Carson, who always tries to do the right thing, though she often disagrees with the political agenda of her boss, DA Holden. Burned out after three years prosecuting homicide cases, Kia is ready for a well-deserved vacation. However, traveling alone to Europe wasn't her preference; unknown to Kia's friends and family, her six-week holiday is a coverup for her job suspension after yet another clash with the DA. Kia is in for a wild ride as she opens herself to new experiences orchestrated by a variety of tour guides in such places as London and Paris. Greece, the last stop of her adventure, holds special intrigue following a chance encounter with a stateside friend, who just may hold the key to happiness and true love. This contemporary romance with an African-American slant is perfect for passing the time on a lazy summer day. Agent, Manie Barron. (Aug.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

From the Publisher

An irresistible can’t-put-it-down ride for every girl yearning for self-discovery!” — Lyah Beth LeFlore, co-author of Cosmopolitan Girls

“Romance, discovery, intrigue, a little taste of Sex in the City... Passport Diaries is the best trip of your life.” — Trisha R. Thomas, author of Nappily Ever After

“This contemporary romance with an African-American slant is perfect for passing the time on a lazy summer day.” — Publishers Weekly

“Stunning debut...Sassy, sophisticated, and laugh-out-loud funny. Gregory is a fresh original voice full of style and grace.” — —Travis Hunter, author of Hearts of Men and Married but Still Looking

“This cool, bubbly romance is the next best thing to being upgraded to first class.” — —Veronica Chambers, author of Miss Black America and Having it All: Black Women and Success

“Whether you’re sitting by the pool or ont he beach, it’s the perfect summer read. I couldn’t put it down.” — —Gabrielle Union, actress

“Travel first class next to Kia without ever leaving your couch.” — Essence

Essence

Travel first class next to Kia without ever leaving your couch.

Trisha R. Thomas

Romance, discovery, intrigue, a little taste of Sex in the City... Passport Diaries is the best trip of your life.

Travis Hunter

Stunning debut...Sassy, sophisticated, and laugh-out-loud funny. Gregory is a fresh original voice full of style and grace.

Gabrielle Union

Whether you’re sitting by the pool or ont he beach, it’s the perfect summer read. I couldn’t put it down.

Veronica Chambers

This cool, bubbly romance is the next best thing to being upgraded to first class.

Lyah Beth LeFlore

An irresistible can’t-put-it-down ride for every girl yearning for self-discovery!

Essence

Travel first class next to Kia without ever leaving your couch.

--Gabrielle Union

Whether you’re sitting by the pool or ont he beach, it’s the perfect summer read. I couldn’t put it down.

--Veronica Chambers

This cool, bubbly romance is the next best thing to being upgraded to first class.

--Travis Hunter

Stunning debut...Sassy, sophisticated, and laugh-out-loud funny. Gregory is a fresh original voice full of style and grace.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173465993
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/05/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Passport Diaries
Chapter One

If you come to a fork in the road, take it.
— Yogi Berra, American athlete

I'm trying to breathe like I learned in yoga class. It's not working. I only went to yoga once and I hated it. I'm a firm believer that the try again adage is bullshit. You've got a fifty-fifty shot of ending up with the same result as you do of having a different one.

"Maya, this is a high-performance automobile. Make it perform,for God's sake."

The 5-series Benz we were rolling in might as well have been a go-cart. I should've left the house earlier. You're supposed to be at the airport two hours before an international flight. I've got an hour and ten minutes before takeoff and Maya is acting like she's the poster child for the Safe DrivingCouncil.

"I can't believe I'm going to miss my flight."

I put my head down on the dashboard and stare at my shoes. Tan Tod loafers. Ideal for traveling, completely wrong for just about anything else. I spot an orange Skittle lying on the black carpet. It's a cruel reminder that not only am I late, but I'm starving, too.

I lift my head just in time to see Maya making a crucial mistake.

"What are you doing? Don't get on the freeway. Take Airport Boulevard!" I'm yelling at her like she's a puppy that's peed on my Jimmy Choos.

She cuts her eyes at me but does as she is told.

"I'm sorry, but you can control more variables if you take surface streets."

"Kia, you need to calm down. You're not going to miss your flight ... "

She glances at her clock radio. It's 9:00 p.m. on the nose. My flight leaves at 10:05.

Mayacontinues, "But if you do miss it, it's not because of me. It was your vain behind that spent the last half-hour packing a toiletry bag! How many beauty products does one girl need?" If we were in a court of law, I would object. I admit to having a healthy amount of self-esteem. I mean, I do think I'm cute. Not Halle cute — more like that black girl who was on threeepisodes of Friends cute.

"I'm a lot of things, Maya, but obnoxiously vain is not one of them."

Maya gives me a motherly pat on the knee. "Oh, honey ... " she says all sugary-sweet, as only a Georgia peach can. "You haven't stopped looking at yourself in the mirror since we got in the car."

The truth of this statement didn't prevent me from noticing that taking one hand off the wheel has caused her to drive even slower. I try not to freak out about it as I look once more into the visor mirror.

"I'm trying to figure out who is this girl staring back at me."

I'd just had my hair corn-rolled, à la Alicia Keys, and I wasn't sure if I liked it. I also wasn't sure if people could tell. Could they tell that just a few short hours ago my whole world had been rocked? Could they tell that yesterday I was a hotshot lawyer on top of my game and today ... well, today ... in between my mani/pedi and my hair appointment, I was summonedto my boss's office and promptly suspended. I'm too embarrassed to talk about it right now. With anyone. It's just one more reason I have to make this flight. The further away I can get from my life the better.

Maya looks me over. "It's certainly a different look for you, but I think it's hot. What did Lorna say?"

Lorna is my mother. She's the quintessential black Stepford wife — perfect, but mouthy. Her hair is always done, dinner is always on the table, and she always has something to say about something.

"I breezed in long enough to grab her travel iron. She took one look at me and said if by some miracle I received an invitation to meet the Queen, I should decline."

Maya guffaws. "Classic."

I laugh along with her. Ouch! My head hurts. These braids are tight as a drum. Any drastic change in my facial expression causes shooting pain across the top of my scalp.

"And for the record, Maya, I was packed two days ago."

I'm one of the few Negroes who take pride in doing things ahead of schedule and openly admit to being a Maroon 5 groupie.

"I swear, Candy's triflin' ass. I sat there for forty-five minutes before she sent Coco over to wash me. If she would've started me on time ... "

There was no need to finish the thought. Every black woman has beauty-shop horror stories. It's our cross to bear. It's like going to church. We know we have to go, even when we don't feel like it. Afterwards, though, we feel like a different person, like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. But,good God, why does it have to take so long? Does the pastor really have to take up two collections? Does the hairdresser really have to double-book appointments? Inquiring-minded people with a life really want to know.

Passport Diaries
. Copyright © by Tamara Gregory. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

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