Spotlight & Giveaway: A Kiss From the Past by Kelly Cain

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Kelly Cain to HJ!

Hi Kelly and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, A Kiss From the Past!

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Nichelle Sampson is not living her best life, but it’s close enough as far as she’s concerned. She has wonderful friends and parents who love her; a dream job as a PolySci professor just like her dad; and an active member of her sorority just like her mom. Since she’s been friend-zoned more times than she can count, she’s giving her attraction-meter a rest. Which is fine because all that focus on her work ensures she’ll be up for tenure soon – the youngest in the department’s history.
On paper, Clark Lin-Lee has everything in the world going for him. He’s a consulting geochemist and runs the jewelry store he and his sister inherited from their grandparents. He doesn’t have friends, exactly, nor a relationship with his parents, really, but his cycling club and rocks keep him fulfilled, mostly. At least until he can find a partner who’ll abide his temperament. Perhaps then he’ll hold the family he longs for.
When Nichelle discovers her origin-story isn’t exactly what her parents claimed it to be, she embarks on a road trip with hot geochemist, Clark, to track down the original owner of an heirloom ring once belonging to Nichelle’s ancestor. She’s hopeful the ring will unlock her birth family.
Clark finally discovers the partner he’s wished for in Nichelle. Telling her he’s scheduled to testify against her mother in his latest conservation case won’t help his cause. So, he doesn’t confide in her until it’s too late, an error in judgment on his part.
Both Nichelle and Clark have familial relationships they’ll need to repair. Not to mention, the one between the two of them. Will Clark get outside his lab long enough to discover a whole welcoming world awaits? Will Nichelle overcome her insecurities and hurt to live in her new possibilities?
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

Clark matched her movements, rubbing her shoulders and back, then cupping her waist in sure hands. “Still okay?”
“Yes. You can grab my ass if you want.” She let out a soft laugh, but he caught the sound in his mouth.
Then he grabbed her ass.

What inspired this book?

This is the most personal book I’ve written. Like Nichelle, I found out I was adopted although much later in life. Sadly, I didn’t inherit an heirloom ring, but I did find out through taking a DNA test and doing genealogy on Ancestry.com. I put a bit of that in the book. As well as the new relationships I discovered once I figured out my birth family. Same as Nichelle, I have two brothers on my mother’s side and two sisters on my father’s side. My ethnicity is the same as Nichelle which was a complete surprise.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

Although I based Nichelle’s story on events that I could relate to, Clark is probably the most like me out of all the characters I’ve written. Not identical of course, but we’re both very introverted. Nichelle was the hardest character I’ve written because she’s so carefree and laid-back, a really go-with-the-flow type of woman. I had to dig deep and really use my imagination to get her right. She surprised me at every turn with her compassion and capacity to forgive, something she teaches Clark how to do.

What was your favorite scene to write?

My favorite scene to write was the one-bed scene. They’d been driving all day, had some emotional miscommunication going on, and had to settle in for the night together which was not in the plan. They’re both frustrated for different reasons and Clark tries to solve one of their problems by doing push ups which is his usual go-to.

His tank was empty. Think, Clark. But he couldn’t think. Instead, he did the only thing that would calm him enough to rein his thoughts in. He got into the push-up position.
“What in the holy hell are you doing?”
He dropped to his knees and peered at Nichelle. Her hands were spread in front of her, palms up. She was clearly waiting for an answer. “Push-ups.”
“I can see that.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Why are you doing push-ups, Clark?”
He took a couple of deep breaths. “I can’t think straight, and I’m hungry. Push-ups will help me gather my thoughts.”
Her hand flew to her parted lips, but she didn’t say anything.
Clark regained the position and counted off the repetition of pumping up and down. When he reached fifty, the door to the bathroom slammed shut.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The most challenging scene to write was probably when Nichelle decided she’d put her irritation with her parents behind her.

Nichelle used her key to unlock the door and was met by her mother coming into the entry hall. “Hi, Mom.”
She wrapped Nichelle up in a warm hug and held her there for a long while. Eventually, her dad joined them. So much was conveyed through that hug. Her parents told her she was their daughter, and they were sorry they hadn’t told her. She told them she was glad, and that she’d forgiven them.
When they finally released each other, Nichelle wiped the errant tears leaking out of her burning eyes. She had a great cry and put her anger behind her for good. Honestly, she’d held onto it too long. She didn’t mean to cause suffering to her parents, but at the same time, working through her crisis of identity took a minute. “What’s for dinner?”
Her dad roared with laughter and pulled her in for another hug, walking down the long hallway to the kitchen. “There’s my girl.”

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

This is definitely a departure for me. I usually write in first person, single POV. This whole series is in third person, dual POV. Writing from the hero’s viewpoint was new for me but I wholly enjoyed it.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

Although change can sometimes be scary, it can also enrich your life. And forgiveness may not be for every situation, but when it’s right, healing relationships can be stronger than ever. Nichelle has two amazing parents who may not have made the best decisions in their communication with her so she was able to forgive them and strengthen their relationship. Also her birth mother didn’t want to connect with her, Nichelle understood and forgave her for giving her up all those years before because her life turned out just fine. Plus, the added benefit of her siblings.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

There are two more books in the Secret Ties series. The second book, Two Sides of a Secret, will be released in July and is up for preorder now. The third book, title to be announced soon, will be released in September.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: An ebook copy of A Kiss From the Past + 3 Tule ebooks

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Excerpt from A Kiss From the Past:

Whoever said Saturdays were meant for sleeping in obviously never belonged to a sorority.
The room was buzzing with excitement at getting together after a single month of being apart. It’s not like there wasn’t a whole shredding project the Saturday before; almost half the chapter of Omega Kappa Omega worked the parking lot as random folks freely dropped off their personal documents. Whew, just the memory of dragging recycling cans around on that hot day had Nichelle grabbing a cool water along with some grapes off the back table of snacks.
“Sorors, please have a seat. It’s ten on the dot.” Nichelle’s mother slash graduate chapter president was more timely than anyone had a right to be—a constant clash with her laid-back daughter.
Everyone made it to their seats, still chattering, but at a lower rumble than before. Nichelle took a seat near the front of the classroom-style room since she’d have to present her report later. They followed the agenda to a T, including the allotted time for each item: old business, new business, adopting the previous meeting minutes, etc. Her mother was dressed to the nines, decked out in their sorority colors of navy blue and silver. Her tutu would have seemed inappropriate on any other woman of a certain age, but Betty Sampson pulled it off with her thin frame and wrinkle-free, dark reddish-brown skin—something Nichelle definitely didn’t inherit from her mother. She had a more athletic build, thanks to her love of basketball. And her skin was peach-colored.
When it was time for the graduate advisor reports, Nichelle stacked the mess she’d made on the seat next to her. When she first got there, she’d collected several stapled papers, small bags of paraphernalia and trinkets from this soror and that one to pass along to the young women on campus, and her plate with what was left of her grapes.
“Soror Nichelle Sampson, please come forward.” Her mother sat in her chair next to the podium. To her mom’s right was Amanda, Nichelle’s closest friend and fellow professor who served as the chapter vice-president and program chairman. And next to her was the secretary busy tapping on her laptop, capturing the meeting minutes.
Nichelle headed to the podium, conscious of her uncovered legs as she went. She intentionally wore a longer skirt, but they wouldn’t go unnoticed. “Thank you, Madam Basilius.”
Her mother looked down at Nichelle’s legs and frowned.
Amanda hid a grin behind her slender fingers, rings covering almost every single one.
Nichelle knew she’d be in for it the minute she’d realized her last pair of hose had a run in them. She probably should have checked earlier in the week. She was not one for planning ahead. There was nothing she could do about it now, so she concentrated on the laptop in front of her at the podium and hit the down arrow for the next slide. “Good morning, Sorors. As you can see, Psi Gamma had a busy month. The young ladies sponsored a food drive for the local food bank, made fifty pillowcase dresses for Haiti, and visited the assisted living center close to the campus to have a sing-along with the residents.” She clicked the key again to show the pictures of the co-eds with the residents, smiles all around, then clicked again to the next slide. “Five seniors will graduate next weekend, and we had their luncheon this past Sunday. Remaining sorors will begin practicing for the Labor Day Classic step show. That concludes my report. Any questions?”
The crowd murmured. She watched them expectantly, but nobody raised their hand. She turned to her mother, who probably would love to ask a question about her bare legs, but obviously couldn’t. Not yet, at least.
“Thank you, Soror Nichelle. Next up is Soror Amanda Rivers with the programs report.”
Nichelle sat and watched her bestie take her place behind the podium. Amanda should have been Betty’s daughter instead of Nichelle because she was just as fashionable—decked-out in a chartreuse pantsuit with a blush-colored scarf draped over her shoulder. The bright pink and green colors complemented her tawny brown skin and auburn braids.
“Good morning, Sorors. Good morning.”
When the crowd offered an enthusiastic but not quite roaring return greeting, Amanda raised the volume of her voice. “I said good morning, Sorors.”
The response was at full volume.
“Yes, that’s better. I love looking out at your beautiful faces, Sorors. You know what I would love even more? Seeing all these beautiful faces at our programs.”
This was Amanda’s usual spiel on the first Saturday of every month. The same forty to fifty usual suspects showed up for service projects even though there were two hundred members of the chapter. Amanda worked harder than anyone Nichelle knew, and she tried to help her friend wherever needed even though Nichelle supported the undergraduate chapter. They were extremely active, and oftentimes their activities clashed with the graduate chapter’s. As grad advisor, she had no choice but to be with the younger ladies.
“Now, Sorors, I’ll be sending out the activities for the week later on this evening per usual. Please ensure that you review your email carefully and update your calendars so you won’t forget. We need six sorors to volunteer for the youth dance performance Friday night. Those middle and high schoolers are counting on you, Sorors. Please contact Soror Tanya if you’re able to make it. Her email and number are in the chapter directory, and it’ll be in the email this evening. Don’t disappoint the young performers, Sorors.”
She could soror with the best of them. As Amanda continued on with her report, Nichelle checked her phone’s calendar to see if she was booked Friday. She may not be the most absolutely organized person in the world, but her phone really made it easy, as long as she remembered to update her calendar right away. She’d been in a bind too many times when she didn’t. According to her phone, Friday evening was free after a staff meeting that afternoon. Who schedules a staff meeting on a Friday afternoon? Her dad, the head of the political science department, that’s who. Between her father bossing her around at work and her mother bossing her around with sorority activities, you’d never know she was thirty-two years old.
She typed out a quick email to Soror Tanya volunteering. With that done, she redirected her attention to the front. Apparently, Amanda had wrapped up her report and sat down.
After everyone gave their various reports, Betty dismissed the meeting so they could sing their song and disburse. Nichelle gathered her belongings and headed to the front table to speak with her mother and her friend who were both packing up. The sorority met at the Berkeley community college and needed to right the room how they found it. Other sorors were in the back wrapping up the leftover food and drinks.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Her mother pulled Nichelle in for a hug and whispered in her ear. “You know better. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Nichelle lifted one shoulder. She did know better. “Sorry, Mom. I’ll make sure I check beforehand next time.” She wouldn’t mention how antiquated she thought the rule was about pantyhose. There was no point because these rules were made at the national level. It was stupid, though. They didn’t even wear stockings to church—not that she attended anymore. That rule went out with the dark ages ten or twenty years before. Her mother was always decked out, with a feathered hat chic enough to put the Queen of England to shame.
Betty patted her on the back before releasing her.
Nichelle’s stomach rumbled. “Where do you want to go for lunch, ladies?”
“Sorry, honey, I can’t make lunch today. There’s a big court case coming up, and I need to pull some documents together.”
“But it’s Saturday. And you’re retired. Do you have to do it now?” Nichelle stuck out her bottom lip.
“Recently retired. And I hadn’t checked my email in days. Richard texted me late last night because of the lack of response.”
How long after someone retired were they still on the hook for unpaid work? Nichelle thanked her lucky stars again she hadn’t followed her mom into the corporate world. “Can’t the new CFO do it?”
“Be a big girl, Nichelle.” Her mom smirked and pulled Nichelle in for another hug. “We can have dinner some time this week.”
She grumbled, “Fine,” then sniggered.

It all started with a crustacean craving. Nichelle simply planted some subtle food-related notions into the conversation with her bestie after their meeting and voila, forty-five minutes later, she was digging into a delicious Seafood Bucatini and an Ultimate Lemon Drop on the outdoor patio at Skates on the Bay. It was a good respite considering how busy Nichelle and Amanda had been. It was difficult getting her friend to slow down for a meal without Nichelle’s delicate prodding. Even after sorority meetings once a month.
They walked the couple miles to Nichelle’s rented one-bedroom apartment in a lovely, shaded smaller complex near the university. The breeze off the Bay was mild and the sky cloudless, and Nichelle was grateful for the shade engulfing her building, welcoming her home.
Nichelle stretched when she reached the bottom of the stairs, her muscles still tight. “Girl, I don’t know how I’m gonna make it up those stairs. I really need to get more exercise. Can you roll me?”
“Who’s gonna push me?” Amanda laughed, then groaned. “Even after that walk, I’m still full. I’m ready for a nap.”
Naps were fine, but Nichelle usually didn’t partake. They left her feeling groggy. “Seriously though. You want to come up and watch Island Romance?”
“Now you’re talking. I love me some Bryce. And you know he’s gonna hook up with Bianca.”
“No. Absolutely not. It’ll be Theresa.”
“You’re outta line.” Amanda climbed three of the stairs and looked down at Nichelle. “Team Bianca all the way.”
“We’ll see.” Nichelle moaned as they trudged up the steps, but she stopped short and tensed at the sight of a tall man standing outside her door. “May I help you?”
The man turned, dressed in a dark-blue uniform. “Do you live here?”
Nichelle relaxed when she spotted a package in his hands, and a larger leather zipped bag near his feet. “Yes. Is that for me?”
“May I see some identification please?”
Amanda nudged her and raised a brow.
She strained to see the label on his uniform, but it was a courier service rather than a normal delivery company. “Okay, but I never have to show my ID for packages.” Nichelle walked up the final step and dug around in her purse for her driver’s license.
“This is a special delivery, ma’am, and I can’t release it without your identification and a signature.”
She handed her ID to the man, then glanced at Amanda and shrugged. What in the world could she be receiving by courier? She couldn’t remember ordering anything, certainly not something special enough to sign for.
“Here you are, ma’am.” After returning her license, he handed her an electronic pad, and she scribbled her signature. Then he released the package to her.
Should I tip him? Ugh. She dug in her purse looking for money while the man waited. She rarely carried much cash around.
Amanda reached around her and handed the courier a bill.
He nodded and left Nichelle and Amanda outside the apartment door thoroughly bewildered.
“Let’s go inside.” Amanda was peeking around even though there was only one other apartment on the floor and the only stairwell leading up there remained empty.
Nichelle unlocked the door, and the women hurried inside. They headed straight into the kitchen which was directly to the right of the door. A short hallway led to the remainder of the apartment.
“I can’t wait to see what’s in here.” She put the package next to her purse on the counter and searched for a box cutter in her many cluttered drawers. “I know I have something to open it with in here somewhere.”
Amanda tapped her four-inch pumps impatiently on Nichelle’s tiled kitchen floor. “Girl, how do you live like this?”
“What? It’s in this kitchen some—Ah, here it is.” She triumphantly lifted the tool, then set to work on the package.
Inside the larger box was a smaller metal box with a key. Nichelle unlocked that box with shaky hands. Next was a smaller navy velvet box along with a single sheet of ivory stationery folded in half.
She glanced at Amanda. “What the what?”
“Just open it already!”
The box gave off an ominous vibe, and Nichelle shook her head. “I don’t have a great feeling about this. You look.”
Amanda happily snapped the little blue box open and promptly gasped.
“What?” She peeked over Amanda’s shoulder and stared at the beautiful pink ring inside. The gem was a huge pearl, like nothing Nichelle had ever seen before. Her hands trembled even more, and the paper slipped onto the floor. Instead of picking it up, Nichelle slumped into a chair. Something was wrong with this entire situation.
Amanda picked up the sheet and read aloud.
Dearest Nichelle,
This may come as a shock to you, but I am your grandmother. I’ve had to love you from afar because of decisions made by your birth parents, but I wanted you to have something to know me by even though I am gone. This is a precious family heirloom and rare gem that originally belonged to your fifth great-grandmother in Jamaica. Take care of it. I hope you’ll pass it along to your daughter or son someday.
I wish circumstances were different. Try not to have any regrets in this life, dearest.
Love,
Grandmother Florence
“Is that it?” Nichelle reached for the letter and scanned it herself. The entirety of the letter was a paragraph. No other clues besides the ring.
Amanda shook the bigger metal box and peered inside again. “I guess so.”
“What does it mean?” Nichelle stared at the single sheet of paper.
“Have you ever heard of a grandmother named Florence?”
Nichelle shook her head, set the paper on the table, and picked up the ring. “No. My grandparents died before I was born, but neither grandmother was named Florence. They were Josephine and Jessie. Even with all the nicknames everyone in my family uses, Florence wouldn’t fit either of those.” She sniffed and took a deep breath, the foreboding giving way to the harsh reality.
Amanda put her arms around Nichelle’s shoulders and squeezed. “I hate to point it out, but she does say your ‘birth parents.’”
The ring suddenly became heavier in Nichelle’s trembling hands. “I, uh. Maybe it’s a—” She was going to say joke, but who sends a family heirloom to someone in jest? Nichelle picked up the paper and studied the short prose again, and soon fat droplets splattered on it, blending the ink. Nichelle buried her head into her friend’s shoulder, absorbing as much consolation as possible. There wasn’t enough comfort in the world to erase what she probably should have known her entire life. She was adopted.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Everything she thought she knew about herself is a lie.

Nichelle Sampson is living the life she always dreamed of. She’s a political science professor like her father, is in her sorority’s leadership like her mother, and has wonderful friends. The only thing missing is romance. But when a letter and mysterious ring arrive, Nichelle’s perfect life is shattered. She’s shocked to learn that she’s adopted, bi-racial, and her origin story isn’t what her parents claimed. Looking for the truth, Nichelle sets out to unlock the secrets behind her birth family through the heirloom ring.

Geochemist Clark Lin-Lee prefers spending time alone in his lab, but when a beautiful professor visits his family jewelry store intent to solve a mystery, he agrees to accompany her. Clark should say no—he has his own unresolved family history and is secretly scheduled to testify against Nichelle’s mother’s company in his latest conservation case. But Nichelle is as persuasive as she is sexy, and for the first time in his life, Clark is ready for an adventure.

Can Nichelle and Clark wade through the increasing questions together or will secrets drive them apart?

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Meet the Author:

Kelly Cain is a native Californian but has spent the last couple of decades in Texas, currently residing in the live music capital of the world, Austin. Consequently, most of her books are set somewhere between those two locations.

Kelly writes multicultural romance with determined women directing their own fates, and the swoon-worthy men who adore them. She loves reading most genres but please don’t ask her to pick just one. However, she can pick her favorite book boyfriend – Will Herondale.

When she isn’t reading or writing, Kelly is most likely using a genealogy site to research her extended family, both old and new. Or cooking/baking something delightful.

She has two adult daughters, and a new granddaughter. Visit her website kellycainauthor.com for more info.
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