Today Cheryl will be giving away a e-copy of her story A Heart for a Heart to one person who leaves a comment on this blog. Be sure and put your contact information if you want a chance to win.
BLURB
Kiera Leslie is all set to welcome Cory Tiger into her home as a foster child. Orphaned and with a learning disability, Cory is looking forward to living with his tutor. Until his uncle shows up...
Sam Tiger returns from military duty to find his deceased brother's son being taken in by a stranger. The boy needs his family and Sam is it. He never expects the tutor to stand up to him and want to keep Cory. Then the worst happens—he finds himself attracted to Kiera.
It’s Valentine’s Day, and Cupid’s got deadly aim!
EXCERPT
“Let's try it
again, Cory.” Kiera Leslie pushed her hair back and straightened her shoulders.
Nothing was more uncomfortable than these
elementary school plastic chairs. They'd been working on the spelling words
for the past twenty-five minutes, over half of their tutoring time gone for the
day. “Look them over one more time.”
“Yes, Miss Kiera,” Cory murmured, dutifully bending to his task
again.
“Cory?”
The ten-year-old looked up at her with eyes as black as coal. His
expression gave away nothing.
“Is...everything all right at the Landrums'?”
“I guess.” He scuffed his feet together under the table. “When can
I come live with you, though?”
Kiera smiled. “Tomorrow, sweetie.” She put a gentle hand on his
shoulder. “I know it's been a very hard month for you—losing your parents and
having to go into foster care.” He nodded, and she sensed his hesitancy.
“I don't like Mr. Landrum. He says things—” Cory
broke off.
“Like what?” Kiera figured she had a pretty good idea, and when
Cory didn't answer, she knew she'd been right. “About you being Indian?” Cory
nodded, and lowered his head.
Anger shot through her, and she steadied herself before she went
on. “What does he say, Cory?”
“He calls me “Chief” and he says stupid stuff in front of people.
The other day, one of the neighbors came over and Mr. Landrum tried to make me
dance. I told him no, and he said I had to—to dance, or I couldn't have
supper.”
“What?”
“I'm not lyin' Miss Kiera. I promise.”
“I know, honey,” she reassured him. “What
happened next?”
Cory raised his head and looked at her directly. “I wouldn't do
it. So I didn't get any supper. Mrs. Landrum came in later on and gave me a
couple of cookies and a glass of milk.”
“Oh, Cory—”
“It didn't matter.” He shrugged. “And I've just
got one more night—”
One
more night in hell. Kiera's lips pressed together, her mind tumbling. If she called
the case worker, maybe...
“Miss Kiera, when I come to stay with you, could
we order pizza sometimes? The Landrums don't believe in pizza.”
Kiera smiled. “We'll have it tomorrow night, to
celebrate.” Kiera had pulled some strings to get the courts to allow Cory to be
placed in her home. She'd just completed her training and background check two
weeks earlier, and a friend who worked for the Department of Human Services had
arranged Cory's permanent placement with her, even though she was single. The
system had need of good homes, and that didn't necessarily mean two-parent
homes any more, with so many of them disappearing nowadays. Kiera had passed
with flying colors, and she was looking forward to welcoming Cory Tiger into
her life.
She'd been Cory's tutor for the past three
years, ever since the middle of second grade. Somehow, despite all the problems
he'd faced, he'd managed to pass. Since she'd become his tutor, Kiera had come
to know Cory and he'd opened up to her after the first few weeks they'd met.
As time went by, Kiera could see that Cory was
struggling to beat the odds stacked against him. An alcoholic mother, a
drugged-out father, a baby sister who had already been given to distant relatives
to raise, and on top of everything, a mild form of dyslexia.
Kiera had already begun the foster care training
program, and nearly had it completed when Cory's parents were killed in a car
wreck. The Landrum household was a stopgap measure until Cory could be placed
somewhere permanently. Tomorrow, she hoped with everything in her, that
transition would happen smoothly.
“I'm ready,” Cory muttered under his breath.
Kiera's throat tightened at the worried doubt in Cory's voice.
He'd been through so much—it had to all work out, for his sake. She patted his
arm. “It's going to be fine, Cory.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “You'll
see.”
He nodded, still looking uncertain as he turned
back to study his spelling words before they went over them again.
Kiera glanced toward the door of the library,
catching a glimpse of movement. A tall serviceman stood just inside the doorway
in camo pants, a nondescript gray t-shirt and combat boots. His skin was a
shade darker than Cory's, but when he met her eyes, she knew there could be no
doubt that he and the boy were related.
Her heart jumped. He looked at her without
smiling, then started toward the table where she and Cory sat.
Cory looked up, startled at first, then a joyous
smile lit his face. “Uncle Sam!” He pushed the chair back quickly and stood,
just as the man reached him, engulfing him in a hug.
“Cory!” He went down to his haunches after a
moment, looking at Cory, his hands rubbing Cory's arms and shoulders. “Look at
you!”
“I'm ten now!”
Sam laughed and came to his feet, ruffling
Cory's dark hair. “I know.”
Handsome.
My God, the man was handsome. With eyes as penetrating and knowing as if he
carried the wisdom of the ages, short cropped black hair, and an easy, killer
smile.
BUY LINKS
Oh Cheryl, a story that would be near and dear to my heart. You captured the feelings of the foster child so well. Well, time to get out tye check book. I do know this will be a favorite. Thanks, for me, the checkbook not so much. (Smile) Ampther winner. Keep em coming. Doris
ReplyDeleteYou can tell the fingers don't work early in the morning. Should be, time to get out the checkbook. Another winner...sigh. Doris
DeleteDoris, I hope you'll snap this one up--I think you'll enjoy it, even if it isn't my usual western fare...
DeleteCheryl
Oh, Okie, the beginning of the excerpt is just heartbreaking! What a way to suck in readers while bringing attention to a situation that's all too common in the foster care system. Big applause to you for handling both so well!
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note... Jimmy does scruffy really well, doesn't he? ;-)
Kathleen,
DeleteDid you know that 'dark-haired, scruffy-looking man' has its own scent? It's BRUT. *grin*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMVt7NkgcZY
AND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYEW4OONbqE
Kathleen, I tutored Indian kids for awhile and some of their stories were just unbelievable. Made you want to break down and bawl with them, especially when they were so stoic about it, and just matter-of-fact.
DeleteOh, yes, Jimmy DOES do scruffy so well.
Cheryl
Oh gosh Cheryl, what a heartbreaking excerpt. I've known kids who were in fostered homes - two of my childhood friends, actually. Things didn't go too well for them but we learned about it years later, after they'd been kicked out when they reached 18. Can't wait to read this story of yours, particularly as it deals with Indians and it's a subject dear to my heart... Native Indian blood flows in my veins and even though I don't know much about that side of my heritage, I'm proud of it. :) And, of course, the cover is great - as all your books covers so far. :) :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liette--the cover was done by our own Livia Reasoner, who just always manages to capture exactly what writers want to see on their bookcovers, and what readers want to see, as well! LOL Yes, foster care can be so lacking. We have some neighbors who have two foster children and they are the most loving people ever. The have a little girl who is about 4 and a little boy who is about 2 1/2--the little girl is white and the little boy is black, and the reason they asked for them both was because they had bonded in another location when they were younger, and the little girl constantly asked "When can we bring Blake to live with us?" So they managed to get him and now they're trying to adopt both of them. But that's the exception to the rule, for sure. It's especially sad with Indian kids--I'm part Indian too, and it seems, for some reason, that the "system" is cruelest to those kids. I don't understand it, except for the fact that there are two "systems" to consider when it comes to foster care for them.
DeleteCheryl
Two elements in stories that really get to me: kids and animals. Throw in a handsome man and a super kind heroine, and that's all I need to know. I loved this excerpt from A Heart For A Heart, Cheryl. It gets to the heart of the story and sets up the conflict. Even though I may know that Kiera and Sam are going to get together in the end and Cory is going to be forever safe and happy with them, the journey getting there is going to make a fantastic experience. On top of all that, you have a beautiful cover.
ReplyDeleteOh, and HOW in the world are they going to get to a happy ending? LOL But you know me. I can't leave them in the lurch! I really enjoyed writing this one. I could see expanding it into a longer novel at some point.
DeleteCheryl
This sounds like a wonderful story. Going on My TO READ list.
ReplyDeleteConnie.bowen@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much Connie. I'm going to draw names here in a bit!
DeleteCheryl
Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteYour excerpt took me back to my teaching days in special education. Rewarding, frustrating, heartbreaking...but always a joy helping the struggling learners.
It's hard, isn't it, when you want so much to help these kids and your hands are tied in so many ways. I had a little boy I tutored, I'll call him Chris--and he had a little brother I ended up tutoring too. His name was Taylor. Well, Their mother had asked for Taylor to have the same teacher Chris had had in 2nd grade because she felt that the teacher had been good for Chris and therefore would be good for Taylor. That woman was the meanest woman I ever knew. She ridiculed Taylor in front of the entire class, called him names, and encouraged the other students to make fun of him and outright hate him. When I'd go down to get him for tutoring, I'd say, "Can I have Taylor?" she'd replied, "ONLY if you will keep him all day so the rest of us don't have to put up with him." Right in front of the entire class. She called him a liar in front of everyone. Finally, I asked to talk to the principal and told him what was going on. Even though I knew it could mean my job, depending on how "well connected" she was (and she'd been there for a long time). I don't know if they ever did anything about it--I like to think the principal DID do something about it. But this was near the middle of the year, and I can't say that I ever saw her let up much even after I talked to him about it. On the other hand, I've seen many teachers who loved their kids and went the extra mile BY FAR to help them learn and do the right thing for them, taking money out of their own pockets to buy the supplies and books and decorations, etc. for their classrooms. My nieces both taught school, and they loved it, and really enjoyed helping the struggling ones, especially, to catch up and realize that they could do it. Teachers, for the most part, are AWESOME people. I would like to have kicked that one's butt, though...LOL
DeleteCheryl
Looks like a winner, Cheryl. I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Zina!
DeleteI can tell the blog is brand new. I love the look. Could you take a few minutes and add the "sign up to follow by email" box real soon?
ReplyDeleteWell, we sure need to do that, don't we? I think Kathleen has been so busy getting the websites and so on ready to go this must have slipped by! Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteCheryl
It's time to draw my winners for tonight, and so....
ReplyDeleteThe winners are CONNIE BOWEN and ZINA ABBOTT!!!
Zina, if you will e-mail me at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com I will see that you get your prize!
Thanks so much to everyone for coming by today and helping me celebrate my release day for A HEART FOR A HEART!
Cheryl