Title: Those Ties That Bind
Author: Kim Janine Ligon
Genre: Cozy mystery with sweet clean romance
Book Blurb:
Why are teenage mothers dying in the Garland Regional E.R. instead of delivering healthy babies for adoption at The Obstetrical Center? Something is seriously wrong. On her physician’s advice, Garland’s CEO Evelyn Langford reluctantly takes a long scheduled vacation for her fiftieth birthday leaving her team to conduct an investigation into Obstetrical Center.
Evelyn’s efforts to investigate the problem are hampered by her complicated relationships with her secretive brother, Frank, her subordinates, and, surprisingly, FBI Special Agent Rance Thompson, a new acquaintance, who comes to the small town to investigate possible links between the childbirth deaths and a string of teenage girl disappearances.
Will Frank’s increasingly erratic behavior and the growing attraction between Evelyn and the younger agent further complicate discovering the truth about the dying girls?
Excerpt:
Miss Langford buzzed Margie. “Please get the medical director at The Obstetrical Center on the line for me.”
“Hello.”
“Miss Langford, what do you want?” the physician snarled.
“Rose Rich’s paperwork doesn’t have any valid contact information. Her real name is probably not Rose Rich. We are coordinating with Chief Davis to check the National Runaway database to see if she is listed there.”
“Why are you going to all this trouble for someone you don’t even know? All you’re required to do is to send the body to the morgue and you’re done.” Did he snort?
“I can’t just dispose of her like garbage. If she was my child or my sister, I’d want to know what happened to her. I’d want an autopsy done to see why she died.”
“We already know why she died. Complications in childbirth. Why do you have to act as if this was a major crime or malfeasance? Women do still die in childbirth, despite all the advances in medical science. This isn’t an issue for the police. Garland Regional isn’t going to be blamed for her death.” He got louder with each word.
“You needn’t yell. I can hear you. The patient mumbled something to Dr. Merrick right before she died. She said ‘Doc, not me again, don’t. Please, I can’t. Please don’t.’ Does that make any sense to you?”
The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?”
“She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?”
The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?”
“She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?”
“How would I know off the top of my head? Hundreds of mothers have been through here. I haven’t memorized all their names, faces, and personal situations.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Chief Davis will get to the bottom of this.”
“There is nothing to get to the bottom of. I’ve reinstituted stricter protocols to trigger hospital transfers sooner for distressed patients. No need to pull in the local police or national resources. Let it go, okay?”
“It’s good to know that in the future mothers in danger will be transported to us sooner, but it’s too late to put the brakes on checking with the police. The wheels are already in motion. We’ve started the investigation,” the CEO said.
“I am putting this on the record. I won’t tolerate harassment of any kind. If you force my hand, you’ll regret it. I promise,” the physician said authoritatively.
“We both have to do what our professional ethics require. This is not personal. It has nothing to do with our relationship. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up. I expect you to do the same. Goodbye.” Miss Langford hung up.
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What’s your favorite activity to shake off the winter doldrums?
To hunker down with a good book, preferably the first one in a series of three or four so I can immerse myself in another world.
Why is your featured book a cure for the winter blues?
It has enough mystery and danger to be interesting and enough romance to warm your heart.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs March 1 – 31, 2025
Drawing will be held on April 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Kim Ligon has been writing stories for most of her life—some on paper and some only in her head. She has lots of source material growing up as the oldest child in a large family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a veterinarian so there were not only lots of children around, but all manner of house pets and farm animals, too. Her love of reading comes from her mother who was seldom seen sitting down without a book in her hand. After a demanding career in healthcare information technology, she is now getting to do all the creative things she loves which includes writing her stories to share with you. She lives with her chief encourager and personal romantic hero, her husband of almost forever, in Alabama. Please follow her further adventures at www.spinningromance.com
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