The Comely Effect: Murder In Our Own Backyard

High profile attorney Camil Drake and her partner struggled to build a successful law firm in Houston. After the body of a prominent business man was uncovered Camil was hired by the victim’s family to take on the case. Little did she know her representation would find her in a whirl wind of lies, threats, and deceit. While trying to compile evidence against a man suspected of murder her life begins to crumble until she finds a love like she’s never knows. Camil never really knew real love until she met and fell in love with Lance Houghton. Lance Houghton, was a well-respected and devoted father who focused his life on taking care of his children. Lance chased every possible dream and each get rich scheme landed him in hot water one way or another. All of the trouble with his children’s mom left him giving up on the idea of love and happiness until Camil walks into his life. After one look at her it made him want to change his life for the better. Who knew falling in love with a beautiful woman would have him fighting to save her life!

Dr. James R. Smith, Jr. is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Counselor Education. He has held the positions of a secondary business and marketing teacher, North Carolina State Consultant for Business and Information Technology, and a local school system Career and Technical Education Administrator. Currently, he is the undergraduate and graduate program coordinator for the Business and Marketing Education teacher education program at NC State University. There he has led the development of online graduate courses for the master's program in business and marketing education. Dr. Smith has held offices in professional organizations and has received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Association of Supervisors of Business Education and the Outstanding Career and Technical Educator from the North Carolina Career and Technical Education Association--Business Education Division. In 2005, he was inducted into the North Carolina Business and Information Technology Education Hall of Fame.