THE FALLEN FRUIT

On a rainy day in May 1964, history professor Cecily Bridge-Davis searches for the sixty-five acres of land she inherited from her father's family. But in her search, she stumbles upon her family's darkest secret. In every generation, one offspring from each Bridge family unit vanishes into thin air, only to be whisked back in time.

As a consequence, rules are established: 1. Never interfere with past events. 2. Always carry your free Negro papers. 3. Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made. 4. Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary. With only a family Bible and a map filled with mysterious containers to aid her, Cecily hits the library, beginning a race against time to discover the truth of how this curse began, and how it can end. Through her research, she will meet Sabrina Humbles, a free Black woman must find the inner strength to seize an opportunity or lose her heart in the process. Luke Bridge, who traverses battlefields, slavery and time itself to reunite with his family. Rebecca Bridge, a mother tested by an ominous threat. And Amelia Bridge, a young woman with survivor's guilt, who will face the challenge of a lifetime--and change Cecily's life forever. Shawntelle Madison's historical fiction debut is page-turning, sweeping family saga about the inevitability of fate and the invincibility of love. Shawntelle Madison is the best-selling author of over fifteen novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Coveted. Her debut novel, Coveted, was chosen as a B&N Romance Bookseller pick for the month of May 2012. The Fallen Fruit is her historical fiction debut from HarperCollins' Amistad imprint. She lives in Missouri with her family.