Gayle Saunders and Patricia Reid have been lifelong friends, as close as
sisters. When they were teens their dreams led them down separate paths
and away from each other. But they reunited as adults, drawn back
together by a bond of friendship that stood the test of time. Now Pat
and Gayle co-own the Ell & Me Company, a business they founded based on
a character Gayle created years ago for her daughter. Things are going
well, but real-life dramas ensue as each must face issues from the past
in order to protect the future. Pat and Marcus look like the perfect
twenty-first-century couple - smart, talented, each at the helm of a
high-profile enterprise and at the top of their game. But behind closed
doors their marriage is challenged by the stresses of a two-entrepreneur
household. Will their professional pursuits leave them time for each
other and a family, or carry them into the arms of others? Will a
paternity claim prove to be too much of an obstacle to overcome? Gayle
faces her own family drama and struggles to maintain control of her
life. Despite dating other men, has she ever really gotten over her
ex-husband, Ramsey, the gambler who left her and their daughter,
Vanessa, in financial ruin? Gayle bends over backward to provide a
stable, comfortable home for Vanessa, and support her dream of becoming
a dancer. And Vanessa, a rebellious and hurtful teen, seems just as
devoted to making Gayle pay for every mistake she has ever made. And
what ever happened to Ramsey? In Gotta Keep on Tryin', Virginia DeBerry
and Donna Grant bring us heroines who remind you, for better and worse,
of women everywhere - women who know that true friendship keeps us
grounded. And when things get rough the bond between women can be
stronger than any trials we face.
