Character Guide - Book 1 of The Ember Ridge Chronicles
“Some love stories start at five years old.”
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KENA RAYNE SINCLAIR
The Claimer - The Girl Who Knew
Age in Book 1: 5-18 years old (1993-2005)
Zodiac: Capricorn ♑ (December 1987)
The Moment Everything Changed:
At five years old on an elementary school breezeway, Kena saw Deacon Ashford walking alone, and she just knew. That day, she went home and wrote in crayon: “I’m going to mary Dekon Ashford.” She’s been claiming him ever since.
Physical:
Warm brown skin with green eyes and dimples
Height: 5’6”
Hair: Relaxed and shoulder-length through high school (goes natural in college)
Signature: Gold locket necklace from Deacon, journal always in her purse
Smells like cocoa butter and vanilla
Who She Is: A dreamer with her feet on the ground. Kena grew up watching her mother shrink herself for her father, and she swore she’d never become that woman. She wants partnership, REAL love—50/50, both people showing up. When she gets pregnant at 16 by Jazz, it’s not the ending to her story—it’s the beginning of her fighting for the life she wants.
Her Journey in Book 1:
Elementary: Claims Deacon on the playground (age 5)
7th Grade: First girlfriend, first kiss, first heartbreak when he chooses his friends over her
8th Grade: Watches him go to juvie, writes him letters, moves to high school without him
High School: Falls for Jazz while waiting for Deacon, gets pregnant, chooses to keep her baby
The Golden Dragon Moment: Tells Deacon first—”I’m pregnant”—and he chooses to stay
Graduation: Walks across that stage with baby Chloe in the stands, ready for college with Deacon
What Drives Her:
Breaking generational cycles. She watched Katie serve Timothy and lose herself. Kena wants MORE—she wants love that doesn’t require her to shrink. She’s ambitious (wants to be a screenwriter), loyal to a fault, and when she forgives, she forgives hard. But cross her enough times, and she’s DONE.
DEACON MICHAEL ASHFORD
The Golden Boy with a Troubled Past
Age in Book 1: 5-19 years old (1993-2005)
Zodiac: Gemini ♊ (June 1987)
Physical:
Deep brown skin, 6’2” (growth spurt in 8th grade)
Low fade, beard comes in during college
Athletic build from football
Signature: His father’s watch, gold chain from Kena (never takes it off)
Nickname: “Suga Suga”
The Dual Nature:
Deacon is the good boy and the troubled kid wrapped in one. Honor roll student and juvie detainee. Charming and self-sabotaging. He grew up watching his parents be PERFECT together, and the pressure to live up to that terrifies him. What if he can’t be the man his father is? What if he fails?
His Journey in Book 1:
Elementary: The boy with the bright smile who captured Kena’s heart
7th Grade: Dates Kena, first love, breaks up with her because his boys say he’s “whipped”
8th Grade: Gets into a fight, accused of hitting a teacher, sent to juvie for 6 months, stays back a grade
High School: Finally catches up, watches Kena with Jazz, becomes her best friend
The Shift: When Kena gets pregnant, everything changes—he steps up for a baby that isn’t his
The Promise: “I want this. I want YOU. I want Chloe.”
What Drives Him:
Fear of not being enough. He loves Kena more deeply than he knows how to handle at 13, and that intensity scares him. The juvie incident shattered his “perfect son” image, but it also freed him—he no longer has to pretend. When Kena needs him most, he finally stops running from what he’s always known: she’s his, and he’s hers.
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CHLOE RAYNE LAWSON
The Bonus Baby
Born: August 2004 (Book 1 ends with her birth)
Parents: Jazz Lawson (biological) | Deacon Ashford (dad who raised her)
Born at the end of Kena’s junior year, Chloe is the catalyst that brings Deacon and Kena together for real. Jazz may be her biological father, but Deacon is in that hospital waiting room, and he’s the one who whispers “Hey pretty girl, I’m your daddy now” when he first holds her.
Book 1 Role: The unexpected blessing that changes everything
THE SINCLAIR FAMILY
“The Anti-Wife’s Family”
KATIE SINCLAIR - Kena’s mother
The woman Kena swore she’d never become. Katie cooks, cleans, serves, and smiles while Timothy relaxes after work. She’s loving and supportive when Kena gets pregnant, but she represents the traditional life Kena refuses to replicate.
TIMOTHY SINCLAIR - Kena’s father
Old-school, strict, emotionally distant. Works hard, provides, but doesn’t EXPRESS love. Disappointed by Kena’s pregnancy but respects Deacon for stepping up.
RUSTY SINCLAIR - Middle brother (6 months older than Kena)
Kena’s best friend, her protector, the one who hugs her when she needs it. Laid-back and chill, he’s the emotional support she can always count on.
LARON SINCLAIR - Oldest brother
Traditional like Timothy, protective but judgmental. Gives Deacon the “hurt her and I’ll hurt you” talk.
QUE SINCLAIR - Baby brother
Three years younger, doesn’t fully understand what’s happening with Kena but adores his big sister.
THE ASHFORD FAMILY
“The Golden Family”
BENJAMIN ASHFORD - Deacon’s father
CEO of Ashford Automotive Group. Successful, commanding, high expectations. Devastated by Deacon’s juvie incident—felt like the family name was tarnished. Shows tough love, expects excellence.
RENEE ASHFORD - Deacon’s mother
The loyalist who defends her son to the world while worrying in private. Wrote Deacon letters in juvie, welcomes Kena and Chloe into the family with open arms.
LANDRIA ASHFORD - Older sister
The overachiever who makes Deacon look like a mess by comparison. Bossy but ultimately supportive.
KHALLIMAH ASHFORD - Younger sister
The spoiled baby who adores her big brother and thinks Kena is the coolest person ever.
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JAZZ LAWSON
The First Love Who Wasn’t The One
Age: Same as Kena and Deacon (born 1987)
Physical: Light skin, pretty boy, tall, hazel eyes—all the girls wanted him
The IT couple with Kena in high school. Gave her all his attention, made her feel special, but there’s a mean undertone. Controlling. When she gets pregnant, he panics. His mother wants Kena to abort. He leaves for the Army two weeks after graduation without properly saying goodbye.
His Role: The catalyst that proves Deacon is the one who’ll stay
ELNORA LAWSON
Jazz’s Grandmother - Team Chloe
Age: 65 in 2005
When Jazz’s mother wants abortion, Elnora steps in: “That’s MY great-grandbaby. Kena, baby, you do what YOU want.” She helps raise Chloe during Kena’s college years, sends money, never judges. Team Chloe ALWAYS—not Team Kena or Team Jazz, just Team Baby.
Her Role: The unexpected ally who makes everything possible
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DEACON’S BOYS
CUBBY REED - The loyal one who lets Deacon crash at his place during hard times
HEAVY WHITE - The protector with street smarts and a soft heart
QUEZ LINEN - The smooth talker and player who gives terrible advice
KENA’S GIRLS
QUETTA WINNS - Best friend since middle school, ride-or-die energy (for now)
TISHANA “TISH” STAFFORD - The loud, loyal friend who stays solid through high school
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EMBERVILLE ELEMENTARY - Where the claiming happened
EMBER RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL - Where they fell in love in 7th grade
EMBER RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL - Where everything changed
GOLDEN DRAGON - The Chinese restaurant where Kena tells Deacon “I’m pregnant”
RUBY’S SUNRISE CAFÉ - Where Kena works, where Ruby becomes her mentor
EMBER PEAK - The mountain overlook where they make promises under the stars
THE SINCLAIR HOME - Country living, the life Kena’s escaping
THE ASHFORD HOME - Success and expectations, warm but busy
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Their Songs (1999-2005):
112 - “Cupid”
Usher - “Nice & Slow”
Aaliyah - “Are You That Somebody”
Destiny’s Child - “Say My Name”
Alicia Keys - “Fallin’”
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This is not a simple love story. This is about a girl who knew at five years old, a boy who ran from what scared him, and the baby that finally brought them together.
Content notes: Teen pregnancy, juvie/incarceration, class differences, family pressure, judgment, poverty, but ultimately HOPE and BLACK LOVE winning.
The Promise: By the end of Book 1, Deacon and Kena are together, heading to college with baby Chloe. It’s hopeful. It’s the beginning. But this is a 5-book series—their story is just getting started.
“I was five years old when I claimed Deacon Ashford as mine. I didn’t know what love was—I just knew HE was it.”
From The Start • An Ember Ridge Love Story • Book 1
Coming 2026