Author Description

Like most seventeen year olds, Kyrie Jackson, feels like he is at war with his parents. After multiple suspensions, Kyrie's father Mark, feels like the only option he has left is to give Kyrie a taste of the real world. Mark helps him land a job that Kyrie can't mess up...until he does just that. Felicia Jackson is torn by the love she has for her son and the loyalty she has for her husband. She knows that she can't raise a boy to be a man, only Mark can do that. But should she sit by and watch her son drift further away while her husband tries to carve away their sons combative ways? Not wanting to disappoint his parents Kyrie feels desperation forcing him into the streets. With contempt for his sheltered upbringing clouding his vision, Kyrie is struggling to find the man he wants to be. His journey climbs a slippery slope when he crosses paths with Yo and Smoke, two brothers from South Knoxville, well known for their violent nature and drug dealing ways. When Kyrie decides to stick his hand into their cookie jar his journey goes from slippery, to deadly. Malcolm, who everyone affectionately calls Doc, doesn't know if he found Kyrie, or if Kyrie found him, but in each other they found redemption. A tragic accident catapulted Doc from his comfortable Florida practice, to the Tennessee mountains, where he landed head first in a bottle of whiskey. He's been there ever since trying to drown his regret and sorrows away with whatever will wet his lips. When Doc offers Kyrie a place in his home he asks only one thing in return...that Kyrie finish his education. What Doc sees as a salvation project in Kyrie, slowly turns into a restoration project for himself. He quickly realizes that he needs Kyrie just as much as Kyrie needs him. Follow Kyrie Jackson's coming of age tale as he finds love, friendship, and redemption.