September 10, 2014

For Keeps by Deatri King-Bey

Got the midweek blues? Dump the doldrums and get engrossed in Deatri King-Bey’s latest, For Keeps!

Here’s Deatri to tell you about it. Take it away, Deatri!

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In my upcoming romantic suspense, For Keeps, Gina Guy’s daughter has witnessed a murder and the murderer is after the little girl. Child Protective Services is manipulated into the picture, and Jarvis Martin, a manager within the agency, steps in to protect the Guy’s rights. From the moment Gina meets Jarvis, she feels she can depend on him, but life has proven to her that the only person she can count on is Gina. Will they be able to stop the murderer? Can Jarvis earn her trust and love?

Heavy topic for a romance, huh? I’m known for taking non-conventional characters and topics and spinning them into a romance. I like to create dialogue. The moment I released the For Keeps blurb, people started asking me where the idea came from. I’ve often said that I have voices in my head that tell me their stories, then I relay those stories to you though my books. Basically, I put my psychosis to work.

Events usually wake those voices in my head and cause them to start speaking to me. The voices from For Keeps came about as the result of two incidents. A few years back, I noticed more reports of children being murdered down here (Arizona) by abusive parents on the news. This was a very noticeable increase. There was actually an event that correlated to the increase in deaths and abuse. I can’t remember the number, but there were like 2,500 reported cases of abuse that were never investigated during that time period. Big time scandal. Lots of people fired over that.

In incident two, I know someone who was reported to CPS by the hospital she delivered her baby in because there were narcotics in the baby’s system. Actually, hospitals must report when babies are born with drugs in their system. That sounds like a good thing, right?

Well, the hospital neglected to inform CPS that the mother had been a patient in the hospital and administered the narcotic by the nurses. The mother didn’t even realize what they were giving her was a narcotic until after CPS contacted her and told them they’d be taking her child from her for him testing positive for narcotics.  This mother went into a panic. She did everything her CPS case manager asked for, but CPS didn’t do their part. Then the case manager’s boss came into the picture and took steps to take this child away from the mother. It got really ugly.

To make a long story short, the original case manager came back into the picture and stopped the insanity. Had it not been for that case manager, this woman’s child would have been taken from her even though the hospital had supplied the paperwork requested by CPS. Sounds crazy, huh? Yeah, I couldn’t believe what was happening as it unfolded.

These incidents breathed life into Gina and Jarvis. There are good parents caught up in the system every day. There are bad parents that children need to be protected from. There are bad case managers and there are good case managers.

I don’t know, this seemed like the perfect backdrop for a romantic suspense. Next thing you know, Gina and Jarvis were telling me their story. I hope you enjoy For Keeps. This title is now available in Print, Kindle, Nook and ePub (via Barnes & Noble) formats. You can read the first chapter here.

Bettye, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share For Keeps. I appreciate it and you.

Deatri King-Bey

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You’re so welcome, Deatri! Sounds like my kinda book. I love stories where characters fall in love under unusual circumstances. Readers, you’re in for a treat!

June 18, 2014

Presenting Chicki Brown's latest,
Till You Come Back To Me
(Book #2 of the Stafford Brothers Series)

Chicki Brown has released the second book in her Stafford Brothers series (if you haven't read the first book, A Woman's Worth, by all means do so; it was a fabulous read!).  Here's the 411 on the latest from this gifted writer:

Where to get it:

http://amzn.to/Snj9wb (Kindle only for the first 90 days)

How to contact Chicki:

Blog: http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/@Chicki663 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chicki.brown

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chicki663/

Amazon Central Author Page: http://amzn.to/l2kjXQ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/qcsiMD

About the book:

Atlanta plastic surgeon Charles Stafford is giving up his successful practice to volunteer his services in Nigeria with a medical organization. Even though he’s excited about this major career move, he has no idea how much his life is about to change.

Nurse Adanna Okoro is one of the six medical professionals working at a small village hospital thirty minutes outside of Lagos, Nigeria. She loves her job and is devoted to the people she serves. When the hospital is notified that it has been chosen to host a team of foreign doctors, Adanna meets the man she has always dreamed of.   

Excerpt:

Manny returned from the dance floor and eased into the empty seat beside her. “Can I get you another beer?” he asked, nonchalantly sliding his arm across the back of her chair.

“Yes, please. Thanks,” she said, hoping her acceptance wouldn’t encourage his interest in her. Femi swore Manny had a secret crush on her, but Adanna didn’t put too much stock in her claim. He always told her she needed to be married and start a family rather than working long hours, but he had never asked her out. She assumed he had come to the realization that he just wasn’t her type. Manny worked in a bank in Lagos, which was a decent job, but he never talked about what he wanted in the future. He seemed quite content with his current position, and that was fine for him but not for her. And he knew it.

He signaled the bartender and pointed to the empty beer bottles on their table. “Femi told me things are getting ready to step up at your hospital. What does that mean for you?” Manny took the cold beers from the bartender when he approached and slipped a bill into his hand.

“It means a lot more work, but it also means I will get to observe some amazing surgeries. There is a plastic surgeon on the team who will be doing reconstructive surgery on the children and perhaps a few adults, depending on the severity of their conditions.”

 “You’re very impressed with doctors, aren’t you?”

Adanna didn’t appreciate the resentful edge in his voice. “I’m impressed by what they can do with the knowledge they have, Manny. Being a doctor means nothing if you aren’t using your skills and training to alleviate suffering. These men and women have given their time and regular incomes to come here and do this work at no charge. I’d say that’s worthy of a little admiration.”

“I suppose,” he said with a dismissive wave. “You’ll be working even longer hours once they arrive, won’t you?”

“Most likely, but I don’t mind. I want to be there to help them handle as many patients as possible during their stay, but until they get here, I just want to relax and enjoy myself.” She grabbed him by both hands and pulled him up. “Come on, dance with me.”

They wriggled in among the moving bodies in the center of the room and stayed on the floor for the next three songs. Winded and thirsty, when Adanna stepped off of the shiny wooden dance floor and headed for the bar, she stopped in her tracks at the sight of her brother staring right at her.

She strode up to him with her arms folded and asked, “What are you doing here, Emeka? Are you spying on me?”

He squinted and mimicked her stance. “No, my dear sister. I am not spying on you. I just happened to stop in for a drink. It is a public place.”

Already hot and sweaty, Adanna’s temperature rose as if she were walking over hot coals. “Don’t tell me any bloody lies, Emeka! You don’t even like nightclubs. I’m sick of you skulking around to find out what I’m doing.” She shoved her hands onto her hips and jutted her chin toward him. “Your time would be better spent trying to find a wife instead of playing guardian to a grown woman.”

“I promised Dad I would watch over you, and I will keep that promise until you have a husband to look after you.” His patronizing smile only made her angrier.

“Don’t you understand that I can look after myself? I’m not helpless. I’m not stupid, and this is not 1950, Emeka.”

He took her hand. “I know you’re not stupid. I love you, and I’m going to protect you until you find a man who will.”

“Please go away.” Determined to put a stop to his interference for good, she pulled from his grasp. Adanna stormed across the room in search of Femi as if her hair was on fire. She found her friend standing at the bar talking to one of the men with whom she’d been dancing earlier.

“Excuse me,” Adanna interrupted. “May I speak to you for a minute, please?”

“What’s wrong?” She must have read her furious expression. “Pardon me,” Femi said to the man as she hooked her arm through Adanna’s. “I’ll be right back.”

Both women moved to an unoccupied table nearby. “You’ll never believe this! My brother is here spying on me.”

“Why do you think that? Maybe he just happened to drop by for a drink.”

“First of all, Emeka doesn’t do nightclubs, Femi. And when I asked him what he was doing here, he all but admitted it.” Adanna waved her arms in the air like a demented symphony conductor. “He must’ve found out from Manny or Agu that we planned to come here tonight. The nerve of him! This is crossing the line. I’m going home.”

“Breathe, girl.” Femi grabbed her by the shoulders. “You can’t leave now. It’s late, and it’s not safe to be out there alone. Why don’t you order yourself another beer and just ignore him? If it were me, I’d show him I didn’t care whether he was here watching me or not. I’d go on dancing and having a good time.”

After a few seconds, Adanna dragged in a long breath to calm herself. “You’re right. He just gets me so upset.” She took a napkin from the table and patted her brow. “I’m going to get another drink. Sorry, I disturbed your conversation.”

“No big deal. He was boring as hell.” Femi laughed. “I think I’ll look around for someone a little more interesting.” She walked away, swishing her ample hips to the beat of the music.

Adanna took Femi’s advice and stayed on the dance floor for the next hour. Even though she’d kept one eye on the crowd the entire time, she hadn’t seen Emeka again. Either he had relocated to a less conspicuous spot or he’d given up and gone home.

Actually, she had a good time once she’d decided to stay with her friends and pushed Emeka’s interference to the back of her mind. Regardless, something needed to be done about her brother.

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Till You Come Back to Me, available now! Show Chicki some love by leaving a comment below for a chance to win a complimentary copy!

February 7, 2014

Guest Blogger:  Shelia M. Goss

The Joneses are coming!

That's right!  Shelia Goss's new book, The Joneses, releases on February 18th. To mark the occasion, Shelia is here today to talk about dating (specifically, what not to do on a first date), tell you about the book, and to do a giveaway!

Here is Shelia's sage advice to those in search of their soul mates:

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Do you get nervous before a first date? Dating should be fun and when you meet a person you're really interested in, you really want things to go perfect. Here are a few things not to do on a first date:

Don't talk about your ex. Unless the other person asks you about your ex, do not spend the entire date talking about problems you and your ex encountered.

Don't do all of the talking. How many times have you been out with someone and they go on and on about themselves and never let you get a word in edgewise? Give the other person time to talk. Listening is just as important as talking.

Don't give it up too soon. Good sex can cloud your judgment. You might think he's the best thing since sliced bread, but he's really not. You're only thinking he is because he knows how to hit your G-spot.

Don't start something you're not willing to put up with later. That means no faking. No pretending like you like something just to get the person and then do a 360 once you're in a relationship. To thine self be true always.

Don't settle. If you do, you'll find yourself caught up in a relationship you really don't want.

What are some other things you shouldn't do on a first date?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelia M. Goss is a national bestselling author and a screenwriter. The Joneses is her seventeenth book in print. She writes in multiple genres. USA Today says, “Goss has an easy, flowing style with her prose…” She's received many accolades in her career, including being a finalist in the mystery category for the 2013 AA Literary Award Show and a 2012 Emma Award Finalist. Her books have been on several bestseller lists, such as: Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Black Expressions Book Club. Shelia loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her via her website, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Now, a little about The Joneses:

THE JONESES

Keeping up with the Joneses isn’t all it’s made out to be. In this intriguing novel full of drama and plot twists, one family tries to hold on to their “perfect” life before their secrets, lies, and scandals are exposed.

On the outside, the Joneses seem like the ideal family: Royce Jones, a funeral home mogul, and his wife, Lexi, are parents to Charity, Hope, and Lovie—and everybody wants to be them. But it’s true that money can’t buy happiness, and the Joneses are harboring secrets that can’t stay hidden forever…It’s only a matter of time before the Joneses’ perfect life goes spinning out of control.

Click here to read an excerpt.  

Preorder your copy of The Joneses today!

Simon and Schuster

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

This exciting new novel will be available in both print and eBook formats.  The print version will be in stores everywhere on February 18, 2014!

Finally, the details of The Joneses Giveaway:

THE JONESES GIVEAWAY
Lexi Jones, one of the main characters, from The Joneses, loves her handbags, so it’s befitting that the grand prize be a handbag. Contest ends on February 25, 2014. 

GRAND PRIZE:

One (1) random entrant will receive a small Coach handbag (Retail value: $188.00, 10 3/4″(L) x 7″(H) x 3 1/4″(W), and Bath and Body Works miniatures (Retail value: $19.75). 

RUNNER UP:

One (1) random entrant will receive an autographed copy of Shelia's novel Montana’s Way.  

10 ENTRANTS:

Ten (10) random entrants will receive the electronic version of Shelia's novel  Hollywood Deception. 

Open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Void where prohibited by law. 

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below (or link to it, if it shows up that way in your browser).  Good luck to all, and don't forget to share your thoughts about what not to do on a first date in the Comments!

a Rafflecopter giveaway