Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Happy Holidays!!!



Seasons Greetings,

I'm super excited, yawl! This is my favorite time of year. I love putting up the tree with my kids and seeing my son's eyes light up when we first plug in the lights. Priceless moments, I must say. There is just something about this time of year that brings out the best in people. People seem to smile more, say hello, and strike up a conversation. Now don't get me wrong, there are still those who can give the Grinch a run for his money, but I choose to ignore them and enjoy the happiness that fills the air. 

Here are a few things you can do to appreciate this time of year.

1. Get out and enjoy the fresh air. 
     Take a walk, go window-shopping, call a friend to hang out. You can also spend quality time with  yourself. If you don't like being around yourself... *side-eye* I'm just saying. 

2. Do something new.
    New things can bring new emotions. New things can open up your mind. New things can make you a better person. New things tend to change your perspective. No one wants to be around a sourpuss. Don't be that one person people want to avoid during the holidays because you always rain on their parade. If you are alive and well, you, my friend, have something to smile and be happy about. 

3. Give back.
     We all know someone who needs help. Instead of buying things we don't need and our children don't need, donate to a family that needs help. Do something charitable. If giving back doesn't put you in the spirit of the holiday, I don't know what will. We all fall on hard times, even when we try to hide it. Just because no one else knows, you cannot fool yourself. It's okay to need people. It's okay to help others. But, do it with a generous heart and pure intentions. 

4. Watch holiday-related movies.
     In our home, we have a family tradition with involves watching movies related to the time of year, whether if my Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, we have those preferred movies we cannot do without. For example, I love scary movies so during Halloween (and not) I always watch the Michael Myers flicks and please don't leave of Jason. For Christmas, my husband and I have to watch Bad Santa, Friday After Next, and This Christmas. With the kids, we watch Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, and The Polar Express.  And no matter how many times we have seen these films, we never get tired of them. 

5. Read a BOOK *preferably a KeKe Chanel Novel*
    Now that was too easy! LOL You know I had to throw that one in there. I love books! I love reading! I am a Writer! Books can take you anywhere you want to go, with whoever, whenever, and there will be adventures of all kinds along the way. There are great deals going on right now until after the New Year. Go ahead and get your read on!  

Enjoy! It's not going to kill you...

Until next time, Be Inspired, Be Encouraged & Be YOU!

Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel




    

Monday, November 23, 2015

Elle Wright's New Book: His All Night Book #2 An Edge of Scandal Series

               


Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

You'll get right to it. LOL

Happy Release Day to my friend Elle Wright!!! *clapping*


It is always an honor to feature a fellow Author and Friend on my blog. Elle and I have never met face-to-face, but we connected on Facebook a few years ago and have supported each other since. Have you ever connected with someone and felt like you have known them for a long time? Well, that's how I feel with Elle as well as other individuals I've linked up with via social media. Hey, it's not bad when you have good intentions in the way you use it! I can go on and on about that, but time is of the essence. I need to tell you about this book... Enjoy!

Here are my thoughts:

Baby let me tell ya! Rarely do you find a sequel to anything that's just as good, if not better, than the first. Well, Elle Wright has definitely achieved that and more with her new book His All Night, the second installment of An Edge of Scandal Series. The book is sexy, sensual, and full of real life issues that all relationships encounter. I laughed, cursed, fussed and cried along with the amazing characters in this series. 

The first book The Forbidden Man focuses on Sydney and Morgan, friends who enter into something forbidden and fell madly in love despite what some might think,  while His All Night breathes life into the hidden relationship of their two best friends Calisa and Jared. They have been friends with benefits for years but now, the rules have changed for one as the other struggles to come to grips that love is definitely in the air. 

If you are looking for something good to snuggle up with over the holiday season or give as a gift for Christmas, you should highly consider this spicy series. The Forbidden Man will push you to the point of no return but His All Night will surely take you over the edge! I can only imagine what book #3 will be like, and oh yes! There is more in this series. Coming in 2016  Her Kind of Man

I won't give any spoilers or say too much. You have to read for yourself to fully understand the nature of the way I "got my life" reading this roller-coaster ride with Cali and Red. Baby when I tell ya, you will not be left longing of a better story... That would seriously be an understatement! Elle Wright has a fan for life.

So go on over to the links below and get your copy today! Let me know what you think. Connect with Elle on social media. Tell a friend to tell a friend. And until next time, be inspired, be encouraged and be you...


Purple Hugs & Kisses,
KeKe Chanel


HIS ALL NIGHT by Elle Wright (November 24, 205; Forever Mass Market; Edge of Scandal #2) THE PRICE OF PLEASURE:

In relationships, Calisa Harper has clear rules: no expectations, no commitments, no one gets hurt. She doesn't need a diamond ring to bring her happiness. She just needs Jared. Fine, fit, and ferocious in bed, Jared is Calisa's ideal combination of friend and lover. But the no-strings status they've shared for years is about to get very tangled.

Jared Williams is the kind of man most women long for: sexy, successful, and ready to settle down. He knows convincing the commitment-phobic Calisa that forever is nothing to fear won't be easy--especially when his ex turns up with a daughter she never told him about. In a heartbeat, Jared and Calisa's passion goes from fiery to fragile. He wants to hold on to the love they share but is terrified that their next night together could be their last...


Buy the book!

Excerpt:

She heard the click of the door latch behind her, but continued to touch up her make‑up.
“How’s your date?”
Whirling around, she nearly toppled over when she lost her footing. Shocked, she rushed to the door and swung it open, peeking outside. She closed the door and turned to face a smirking Red. “What the hell are you doing?” she hissed. “This is the ladies’ room.”
He shrugged, his hazel eyes raking over her body. “I was just checking on you. You bolted from your table so fast, I thought something was wrong.”
“How is it that, of all the places in the city, we end up at the same restaurant?”
“Coincidence,” he told her. “Holiday party. The firm likes to go all out.”
“Really? Red, it’s not even December yet.”
“They did it early this year,” he explained, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “They’re calling it a harvest party.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?” She forced a frown onto her face even as her insides were melting at the smell of his cologne.
“Didn’t think I had to. But since you’re here, you could always join me.” He traced the vee on her dress, sending shivers up her spine. “Why don’t you get rid of the stiff and come up to my room?”
Tempted as she was, she wasn’t going out like that. “No,” she breathed, suddenly feeling very . . . hot. “I have a date.”
Slowly, he edged closer to her. She retreated until the hard doorknob dug into her back. Reaching behind her, he flipped the lock on the door, the click echoing in the empty bathroom. Sucking in a deep breath, she waited, anticipating his next move.
His fingers flitted across the hem of her dress and he inched it up a bit. Kneeling down, he slipped his hands under her dress and slowly pulled down her underwear. She held her breath, wondered what he would do next.
“Step out of them,” he ordered in a low, deep voice.
Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she stepped out of her lace panties. With a smirk, he stood up, tucked the thin material into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, and pulled out a tiny key card. He placed it in her hand and closed her fingers around it. “Room 1179,” he murmured, his lips a mere inch away from hers. Closing her eyes, she took in the smell of cognac on his breath and leaned closer.
His soft laugh brought her mind back to their location and she opened her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but he placed a finger over her lips.
“Shh. Try not to think about what I’m going to do to you, while you’re on your date.” Swinging open the door, he walked out, whistling.
She hated him—in the best way.



And don't miss book one in the Edge of Scandal series, THE FORBIDDEN MAN: In Love With the Wrong Man
Sydney Williams has forgiven her fiance, Den, more times than she can count. But his latest betrayal just days before their wedding is too big to ignore. Shocking her friends and family, she call off the engagement. She walks out on Den...and into the arms of his brother, Morgan.

Known as a player, Morgan Smith has secretly spent years fighting his feelings for Sydney. When Den's latest dirty deed leaves Sydney devastated, Morgan can't stop himself from coming to her rescue. What begins as friendship quickly escalates into all-consuming passion. Despite their intense connection, Sydney would rather deny her desire than come between brothers. But as Morgan is determined to make Sydney his, Den won't give her up without a fight...



Buy the book!
Kobo 

                                      


About the author:
Born and raised in Southeast Michigan near Ann Arbor,  Elle learned the importance of reading from her mother. It was also her mother who, later on in her life, gave Elle her first romance novel:  Indigo by Beverly Jenkins.  From that moment on, Elle became a fan of Ms. Jenkins for life and a lover of all things romance.  An old journal she wrote back in college became her first book (which she still wants to publish one day).

Connect with the author!

Monday, August 31, 2015

Happy Feelings








Five Things to Help You Stay Positive

We all go through moments when we don’t feel positive. It can be due to stress on our job, financial hardships, losing someone we love, and many other things. Sometimes, we are simply tired of feeling like we are not living up to our full potential in life. We all want to find our purpose and cultivate it. We all want to live life more abundantly. There is nothing wrong with that. But negativity has its way of getting in our heads, throwing us further off track. It can consume us. It can cause a downward spiral if we are not careful. Misery does love company. Don’t take up residence in pity hotel with a roommate called sadness. There are ways we can overcome these waves of self-loathing. Here are a few ways I stay positive even on my gloomiest day.

1.   Think of something that always brings a smile to your face.
I think about seeing my children for the first time. I think about my wedding day. I think about having a new day to get things right that I messed up the day before.

It’s essential that we think immediate positive thoughts when negativity rears its ugly head, and as long as there is life in our bodies, it will.

2.   Take a deep breathe or meditate.
I learned from taking deep breaths that it slows down the heart rate. Being stressed can cause heart attacks, strokes, anxiety, and much more to our bodies. We only get one body. It is up to us to take care of it as best we can. Being negative can be mentally and emotionally damaging. Meditating on something calms the mind, body, and spirit.

I love the sound of water. Most times, when I find myself becoming negative or anxious, I meditate on the sound of waves hitting the sand of a beach. The tranquil feeling I get takes me to my happy place. A few deep breaths later when I open my eyes again, I am free from all negativity. I am able to focus on what matters most in my life.

3.    Change your scenery or environment.
Going for a walk can be refreshing. Designating a special place in your home where only you are allowed to work or relax can be just want the doctor ordered. Why do you think runners like running outside? Right, they love the change in scenery and the fresh air. It’s perfectly okay having a place just for you. Let’s face it! We all need our ME-TIME.

4.     Reward yourself.
Buy yourself something special. We work hard to have nice things. Why not pamper ourselves every now and then? Even if it’s just a pair of knockout sunglasses, you deserve it. Stop waiting on someone else to do it.

I love journals. Buying a new journal is one way I reward myself.  Another way, is buying nail polish. It’s safe to say I have an addiction when it comes to nail polish. I feel happy when I see a color I don’t have.

Anything that put a smile on your face is something you can focus on doing to stop negativity from becoming cancerous in your life.

5.   Give it to God and leave it there.
Some things are bigger than us. The only way to get through them is to pray about them and move on. Have faith that everything will work out for your good. Once you acknowledge the problem, pray about it, and give it over to God. Don’t pick it back up again. Let it go! We all know the saying: “Don’t worry if you pray, and don’t pray if you worry.” There is nothing too hard for God.

Remember, life happens. There will always be good days and bad days. You decide if your good days will outweigh your bad days. A positive attitude will take you further in life than one, consumed with negativity.

I hope my tips help you. I am no expert, but I know what works for me. If I can help make someone else’s life a little bit easier, my work is done. Be blessed. Happiness is contagious! Try it.

Until next time, be inspired, be encouraged, & be you!

Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel

Monday, August 24, 2015

It's Monday!!! New Blog Post:



 I felt like writing a little short-story today for your reading pleasure. We can be too trusting of people, especially people we don't know. Life happens! Be careful and follow your first thought. That gut feeling is our protection. Don't ignore it. 

I didn't provide many details about the characters in the story because I wanted the message to be the focal point of the story. With my daughter going off to college, this story was inspired by that. 

 

“Jenni in the City”

Jenni looked around. She pulled her scarf closer to her neck trying to fight the harsh New York weather. She was a country girl not accustomed to the snow and other inconveniences that came along with it. Although winter in the city was beautiful, after a few days of slipping and sliding on the slick sidewalks, Jenni was over it. Her gut told her to stay in tonight, but she was lonely. She wanted to be around people. Missing her family and friends got the best of her on nights like this.

“Hello, gorgeous.” Jenni remembered the stranger saying to her as she ordered a drink from the crowded bar. She’d heard some locals talking about the place during lunch, and decided she would check it out. It was amazing. Jenni came to that conclusion after taking two steps inside the place. “I can get use to this,” she whispered to herself.

The guy at the bar was cute in a rugged kind of way like Christian Slater. His eyes looked dishonest, so she smiled without maintaining too much eye contact.  She waited for her apple martini then politely excused herself from his gravitational pull. Being near him didn’t feel right. There was just something about him that Jenni couldn’t put her finger on, but deep down; she knew he was not the type of person she could trust.

After a few drinks, Jenni began to unwind. The same guy didn’t seem so bad anymore. In fact, she found him to be quite charming. He made her laugh. She leaned into him, softly touching his chest. She flirted without realizing she was flirting. She blushed without realizing she was blushing. They danced, talked, and had a fun time. Jenni didn’t feel so lonely being away from home.

As the night went on and the two got better acquainted, Jenni’s head started to feel dizzy. She knew she should stop drinking and go home, but didn’t want to. She was having the time of her young life. Fighting hard to stay alert, Jenni knew things weren’t getting any better for her sudden condition. She told the guy she had to leave, apologizing for interrupting their night. Thinking back on it now, he hadn’t seemed surprised.

Jenni focused to keep from falling in the dirty snow. Her stomach felt nauseous. What was happening to her? Moving along the sidewalk, Jenni held her cell phone in her gloved left hand inside her coat pocket. Her dad taught her the gesture in case she needed to make an emergency call without anyone knowing. She missed her family. Being so far away from home was hard. Jenni knew in order to follow her dream of becoming a fashion designer New York was the place to be.

Footsteps behind her caught her attention. Only one more block she told herself mentally. One more block and she would be home. Jenni moved swiftly. She peered over her shoulder and saw the dark figure approaching her. She didn’t want to panic, but she also didn’t want to become the headline of the ten o’clock news.

Jenni moved faster. Almost there she kept telling herself. As she reached the front of her apartment building, she felt someone tug her from behind. She fought as best she could, but it was too late. Her attacker overpowered her in her dazed state. The streets were dark and empty. No one heard her cry for help as she was pulled to the dark colored van waiting in the alley.

“Never trust a stranger to buy you a drink,” was the last thing Jenni heard before she fell into complete darkness. No one would ever see her beautiful face again. No one would ever see the young girl from the county who came to the city to pursue her dream. 

Until next time, Be inspired, Be encouraged, & BE YOU!

Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel