Book Description

Maria Paris cannot wait to begin college and start her new life. She’s been kept under the watchful eye of her NYPD mother and is just bursting to live on her own. Being originally from the Bronx, Maria wants to show the world what she is made of. Her plans to become a criminal attorney are paramount in life endeavors and she’s also ready to find that special someone to give herself to. Journey is about a young Puerto Rican girl name Maria Paris originally from Bronx, New York. While at the esteemed Meadow Marvels College, the first night proves to be standard with the usual Freshman Move-in Day and dinner at the student hall until her and her roommate, Lavette, arrive back at their room. They stumble upon sirens and flashing cameras when suddenly, the dean, Mr. Gary Stones, gets killed right in front of them by one of the girls who live with Maria and Lavette. There are now three bodies laid out in the entrance of dorm room 1F. Maria goes on a personal journey to find clues and answers to her questions. She probes newspaper articles and internet stories about the history of MMC and is determined to uncover the truth about the number one college in the state. However, the clues lead her to her mother, an NYPD detective who is in the running for the next New York City Chief of Police. She finds out her mother is not the person she thought she was, ultimately, leaving Maria wanting to find the truth behind who she is and why her mother has kept secrets from her. A week or so passes when Maria and Lavette discover they are both the prime targets in this game of cat and mouse. Maria has already had an attempt on her life when she was locked in a closet, but escaped. Lavette was already attacked by someone who was looking for Maria. The two girls call the police and are told that they must leave campus at once. The new dean of students, Mrs. Gwendolyn Rayes, is behind the murders and wanted Maria dead. Both girls sneak off-campus and are picked up by Detective Joe Reyes who is later killed as he was only moments away from finding out the truth for Maria and Lavette. The two are at the illustrious Waldorf Astoria when Maria’s dreams of finally seeing her mother come true. She has spoken to her mother and told her everything that is going on. Maria assures Lavette that all will be safe now and they have nothing to worry about. However, with the string of Maria’s bad luck lately, she is soon to find out that is not even close to the truth. Maria’s mother, Detective Carmen Paris, knocks on the door of the room and before Maria can open it, they receive a phone call telling her not to open the door. Maria’s mother is being held at gun point and the plan was to shoot her the minute Maria opened the door. Once Maria received the news, she obeyed and watched through the peephole as her mother’s life was taken right in front of her. Maria opened the door to watch the other detective, Cedric Hooker, flee behind the gunman. Carmen’s last words to Maria were “I’m sorry I never told you.” In order for Maria to cope with what is happening, she is assigned two guards to stand outside her room 24/7 and now has the current Chief of Police, Mrs. Gloria Reynolds, by her side every step of the way. Maria’s aunt Mirtha is also by her side explaining to Maria the secrets of why her mother got killed and who could have possible been behind it. When Mirtha explains to Maria that her mother was a twin, the notion floors Maria making her angry at the thought of her mother keeping a secret from her. Maria always thought the two of them were so close. MIrtha sees Maria’s apprehension, and quickly reassures her that her mother had nothing but the best intentions for her. Carmen’s sister, Antonia, was a product of an adulterous relationship that their mother had, and when their father found out, he banished Antonia from the family forcing her into prostitution and drugs. Carmen found this out and went looking for her sister only to find her father—Luis Paris—th