Welcome my guest @jansikes3 #NewRelease

Published on by balroop2013

I am delighted to welcome Jan Sikes, (my author buddy) with her new release ‘Ghostly Interference.‘

BOOK BLURB:

Jag Peters has one goal in his quiet comfortable life—to keep his karma slate wiped clean. A near-miss crash with a candy apple red Harley threatens to upend his safe world. He tracks down the rider to apologize properly. Slipping into a seedy biker bar, he discovers the rider isn’t a “he”, it’s a “she”, a dark-haired beauty.

Rena Jett is a troubled soul, who lives in a rough world. She wants no part of Jag’s apology, but even while she pushes him away, she is attracted to him. When he claims to see a ghost—her brother—can she trust him? And could her brother’s final gift, a magical rune stone with the symbol for “happily ever after” have the power to heal her wounds and allow opposites to find common ground—perhaps even love?

GROWING UP IN FOSTER CARE

 Rena Jett’s mother died of a drug overdose when Rena was a baby. As no relatives could be located to take her and her brother, Sam, they went into the foster care system. 

I drew from my own experience of having worked for the Texas Child Protective Services for several years. There is an average of 30,000 children brought into the foster care system per year in Texas. That’s a lot! Not all foster homes are kind and loving. Not all are bad. In fact, I’d say there are more good than bad. But for my story, I needed lots of bad to develop this character. 

Rena has built walls around her heart to avoid more hurt. She’s tough as nails and rides the big red Harley like a pro. She needs no one. And, now that her brother is gone, she’s even more determined to protect herself. Throughout the story, she reveals to Jag incidents that’s caused her to build this shell around herself. 

Excerpt:

“You seemed to click with Mattie and Sheila. Did you ever have a dog?”

She frowned and stiffened. “There was this little stray once. I’d sneak food out to him when I could.” Her voice broke.

After a long pause, Jag asked softly. “What happened?”

“The foster dad caught me and whipped me, then killed the dog and made me watch.” A sob caught in her throat. 

“Oh,Rena.” Jag gently wiped away a stray tear. He wanted to hold her and make all the bad memories go away. “I’m so sorry.”

She sniffed. “After that, I never tried to have another dog. I do really like them though.”

Jag searched for words of comfort. The horrors she’d endured were beyond his comprehension. It didn’t seem fair that any child should have to suffer so much. And yet, under all of that, was a beautiful sweet girl just waiting to be loved and cared for. He swallowed past the lump in his throat.

“You’ll never be mistreated like that again as long as I’m alive.” 

“I can damn well take care of myself. I didn’t survive all of that shit by being weak.”

Excerpt 2:

“Jag, can I tell you something?”

His eyes widened. “You can tell me anything. I hope you know that.”

She looked down at the amber liquid in the bottle. “One time I was sent to this foster home over in Rigsby. They wouldn’t let Sam come with me. He’d gotten into trouble for fighting and they sent him to detention.” Her voice trailed off. 

“Go on. I’m listening.” Jag slipped the pizza into the oven and sat the chips and dip on the bar. 

“It was a nice house like this and I thought I’d finally landed somewhere I would be treated good. Boy, was I wrong.The foster mom locked me in a closet for hours one time because I ate a piece of cold pizza from the refrigerator.”

Jag put his arms around her from behind and murmured into her hair. “I can’t even begin to imagine all that you’ve been through. It’s no wonder you don’t trust anyone.”

She twisted around to face him. She fought to keep her voice from trembling. “I wanted so badly to have a family. Someone who gave a damn if I lived or died. But, they never came. It was just me and Sam trapped in a system that was broken in so many ways it could never be fixed.”

***

Have you ever had any experience with the foster care system, or known anyone who grew up in it? I’d love to hear from you! 

BOOK TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/NHaLVSe_flI

Purchase Links:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

Connect with Jan:

Website Blog Facebook Amazon Author Page

Thank you, Balroop, for allowing me to use your blog space to talk about my new book, Ghostly Interference! 

69 thoughts on “Welcome my guest @jansikes3 #NewRelease”

    1. So sorry, Balroop. I knew where I was, but my fingers went to the wrong name. Thank you SO much for hosting me today. I truly appreciate your support!

  2. Pingback: BOOK TOUR Day 6! GHOSTLY INTERFERENCE #romance #ghost #newrelease @wildrosepress @jansikes3 @BalroopShado – Writing and Music

  3. Hi Balroop, I have been reading about Jan Sike’s new book “Ghostly Interference” and it is now on my reading list. We have had some challenges this past month, so I am enjoying catching up on my reading. Take care and stay well during the holiday season.❤️

    1. Hi, Erica/Erika! Thank you SO much for the wonderful comment. It is music to my ears. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you enjoy “Ghostly Interference!”

    1. Good morning, Diana! Yes, I am all over the place with this book. I’m sure everyone will be sick of me before this tour ends. 🙂 I appreciate the good wishes! Merry Christmas!

      1. That’s how I felt by the end of my tour, but each visit has a few new views, so keep at it. Plus it’s fun to celebrate each other’s achievements! Keep smiling. 😀

    2. You are right, Diana! And I make sure each stop on the tour is a different aspect of the book or totally different subject. I’m smiling!! 🙂 Thank you!

  6. Wonderful showcase, Balroop! Congratulations, Jan. Another great peek into your amazing book. 💗

  7. I haven’t had personal experience with the foster system, but I do know there are some foster families that never should have been allowed in the system. Sounds like Rena has a lot to overcome.

    1. Working for CPS, I saw many cases where foster parents did not provide a good loving atmosphere for children. I needed Rena to be very flawed so I chose that route for her. She has a lot to overcome and to forgive. Thank you for stopping by today, Joan! Have a wonderful day!

      1. Many thanks for coming over Joan, its nice to connect with you. I wonder how anybody could be insensitive towards children. It is so heart-breaking!

  11. Hi Balroop2013, Hi Jan,
    During my university years, I worked in a state hospital for mentally ill children. I must say they were some of the best years of my life. I learned a lot.
    Thank you Balroop2013 for hosting Jan. It’s nice meeting another RRBC member.
    Thank you Jan for the excerpt. My curiosity Continues to grow.
    All the best to the both of you.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat Garcia

    2. Wow, Pat. Yes, I am sure you learned a lot working in that hospital. Fodder for stories! Thank you for stopping by and for all your amazing support! I appreciate you!

  12. I’m not close to any foster care situation, Jan. One that I heard of was someone who adopted a 3-year-old girl. In the first year, whenever she spoke to the girl, without understanding the message, the girl would run to the corner of the wall and stood facing the wall as if it was a form of punishment. In my counseling services, I had many clients who grew up in homes with alcoholic parents and I could see the emotional damage.
    Thank you for hosting, Balroop! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    1. It makes me so sad to hear any stories of children who are abused. It just doesn’t seem fair. They are the innocents. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Miriam.

      1. You’re welcome, Jan. I know the family who adopted this girl who has grown into a beautiful young lady with full confidence because of the love and care from this family. I’m so glad to see the happy ending.

  13. I don’t know much about foster care Miriam, having read about it in the books, I know many children suffer irreparable emotional damage due to insensitive people around them. Thank you for coming over to share your thoughts. Merry Christmas to you too and yours.

  14. I’ve taught many students from the foster care system, including one or two who lived in an orphanage. They are some of the most resilient kids I’ve ever met. Great excerpts, Jan! Thanks for hosting, Balroop. 🙂

    2. I think the word ‘resilient’ describes how they have to be growing up in those environments, Yvette. Rena is very resilient and determined not to need anyone in life. She has to change and it’s a slow process. More than anything she doesn’t want to feel hurt again. Her heart can’t take it. Thank you for stopping by, Yvette! Merry Christmas!

  17. Pingback: BOOK TOUR Day 8! GHOSTLY INTERFERENCE #romance #ghost #newrelease @wildrosepress @jansikes3 @virgilante – Writing and Music

    2. Thank you, Lisa! I’m happy that the book intrigues you and hope if you pick up a copy that you enjoy reading it half as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  19. Balroop, a wonderful introduction to Jan’s book! I immediately feel for Rena and the protective shell she’s out around her to survive and Jag might just be the one to help her open up to life! A superb premise for a story with the ghost of her brother and I’m thoroughly intrigued! Two superb extracts that had me hooked … I can’t get the dog scene out of my head. Best of luck to Jan with the blog tour and book.

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