Furbaby Friday with C. Becker!

Welcome C. Becker (Colleen) and her beloved furbaby. Colleen is also sharing her new release, a suspense published by The Wild Rose Press, Finding Euphoria.

Colleen: Thank you Beth for hosting me.
The biggest and best decision my husband and I ever made (other than having kids) was the addition of our Jack Russell dog, Brownie, to the family. We adopted him seven years ago, after enduring years of kids pleading to get a family dog. When I realized how deeply my youngest son was praying for a dog, I agreed. Once my husband and I made the decision to adopt, choosing a family pet suitable for our family couldn’t have been easier. We went to a house where the family was selling five-month old puppies. Brownie’s siblings ran around us, barking. Of all the dogs, Brownie was the only one who went up to my youngest daughter. He sort of just stayed next to her and didn’t bark. Like he was saying, “Take me.” His behavior sold me. We brought him home, and he took control of the house—in a good way.

Brownie is happiest when everyone is home. When the kids leave for school and college, his tail goes down, and he “knows” he’ll be alone for a while. If I’m home during the day, he’ll sleep on the couch while I work writing at the computer. When I stand up, he takes his cue that it’s time to play. He is great playing catch with his ball and he loves the dog park.

He sleeps with all the kids, rotating during the night, in different rooms. Whom Brownie sleeps with at night is always a focus around the breakfast table.
Jack Russells are known for being highly energetic animals. Brownie loves to run and at any time, can go wild, running in circles around the house. My youngest daughter takes him for 4-5 mile walks every day so he stays healthy and fit. He could walk all day, sniffing the air and everything around him. He’s also extremely protective, barking to let us know of any visitor at the door. He recognizes the sound of our cars driving down the neighborhood.

An intelligent animal, Brownie knows a few tricks, but he has trained us to let us know when he wants to eat and drink, go to the bathroom, play ball, and have a snack. His latest trick is holding off relieving his bladder in the morning until someone takes him for a long walk outside. He loves to have his belly rubbed and to snuggle up with anyone who is sitting or lying down. He enjoys attention, but has brought more love and happiness to our household than we could have ever imagined. The kids recently nicknamed him Bub, because “He’s such a Bub.” Through a unanimous vote, my novel is dedicated to him.

Finding Euphoria is a suspense novel published by The Wild Rose Press. The rating is PG-13.

BLURB:

Hailey Langley refuses to be a victim and has moved on from her traumatic past. But her marriage problems worsen when a deadly illicit drug threatens to draw her into the life she left behind.

Mark Langley has allowed his job to interfere with his marriage, but he never suspected the secrets in Hailey’s past might hold the key to solving both of his current investigations.
Together, they must unravel the mystery of the drug called Euphoria and find a way to save not only their marriage, but countless lives, before it’s too late.

EXCERPT:
He turned the bottle around in his hand and set it on the end table. “Don’t put me in this position. You know what would happen. Grace is his mother. She’s the one who needs to stay with him.”
Regret tugged at her heart. “I wouldn’t take any time away from her.”
Parker groaned. “Just you being there would make her feel uncomfortable.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“But I’ve stayed away for seventeen years,” she whispered.
“That was the adoption arrangement.”
She bit her lip. “I can’t stay away any longer.”
“You agreed to those terms in the contract. You terminated all parental rights.” Parker stood and paced to the kitchen.
“But it’s not fair!” She put down her water and began wringing her hands.
Straightening his arms, he leaned against the bar. “Hailey, please don’t start. I know how you feel…”
“You couldn’t possibly know how I feel. I need to see him.” She fought to control the bitterness in her voice.
“No.”
She rose, knocking over the water bottle. “He’s my son!”
“Not anymore, he isn’t.”
The rebuke stung. “He’ll always be my son!”
“When you gave him up, you promised to keep your distance.”
“I have.”
“Forever.”
The reminder lanced her heart. “You’re being unfair. He’s dying.”
He slammed his fist on the bar. “Don’t say that. He can’t die.” Parker pushed himself up and stomped near the window, raising his hands to rest on top of his head as he faced the curtain.
A muscle twitched in her hand. Her knees buckled. She sat on the edge of the couch, wringing her hands. “I was young. I couldn’t give Justin the life he deserved. I’m not asking to take him back. I only want to see him.”
Rubbing his jaw, he walked back to the couch and sat. The hard lines on his face softened. “The adoption papers were clear. No contact.” He placed his hands on top of hers and stilled them. “If the decision was mine, I would allow it, but Grace would lose it if she found out you’re Justin’s biological mother.”
Her hands squeezed into tight fists. The urge was unbearable. “I wouldn’t tell her.”
Parker ran a hand through his hair. “Argh! Don’t you understand? She’d take one look at your face and know the truth. Don’t forget, you’re the one who wanted us to protect him.”
She stood. “Well, you did a hell of a fine job, didn’t you? You divorced Grace and deserted him. Parenting takes sacrifice, Parker. You were too busy changing careers, and now he’s messed up with drugs. How did that protect him?”
Standing, he reached for her.
“No. You stay away from me.” She extended her hands and backed up a step. “Justin’s dying! Dying, Parker! And I don’t know him…You won’t let me see my own son.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
She pushed him, pummeling her fists against his chest with all her strength.
He silently took his beating.

BUY LINKS:

Finding Euphoria at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Euphoria-C-Becker-ebook/dp/B07NPX6ZBL
At Apple itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/finding-euphoria/id1453326981?_bbid=11795784&mt=11
At Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130573850?ean=2940161287873

SOCIAL LINKS:
C.Becker website
Facebook C.Becker Author
Twitter C. Becker author
Amazon Author Page C. Becker

Author Bio: A native of western Pennsylvania, C. Becker earned a B.S. degree in Medical Technology and MT (ASCP) certification. She has worked in clinical settings analyzing body fluids and testing drugs of abuse. As an author, C. Becker has published multiple stories in various genres.

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave Colleen a comment.

Furbaby Friday with Sandra Dailey!

A warm welcome to Sandra and her dear little dog. Sandra is also sharing her new release with us,  a romantic suspense, The Co-Parent Project.

Sandra: I wish you could meet my furbaby, Archie. He’s a small, black and white terrier mix about seven-years-old. He was given to me by my sister four years ago. He’s quiet, well-behaved, and follows me everywhere.

Archie and I went through a scary time at the beginning of the year. He developed a bad cough and sneezing fits. I thought it was a cold. Still, I wanted to have him checked out. I made several attempts to contact his vet, to no avail. I decided it was time to find someone else.

After two hours of exams, tests, and x-rays with his new vet, I found out my little buddy was in big trouble. He had an abscessed tooth that had breached his sinus cavity, (the sneezing). Having a dental background I knew this could be fatal. He needed surgery.

His new vet was concerned about putting him under because of his loud heart murmur. Why hadn’t I been told he had a heart murmur by his old vet? A chest x-ray showed his heart wasn’t swollen, but he had a soft tissue collapse in his trachea, (the coughing). She could do the surgery, but I was ordered not to allow him to wear a collar ever again—more information I wish I’d had earlier.
The surgery was a success. But the month that followed was a challenge. We both love his new vet. It makes me wonder, though. Where would we be now if his old vet had answered her phone?

Interesting fact about Archie—he loves wearing clothes—sweaters, shirts, jackets, or just a bandana on hot days.

The Co-Parent Project

Parenting style won’t matter if they don’t all survive.

Blurb:
Luca Wolff and Joy Sullivan are competing for guardianship of their estranged, teenage nephew, Eric, after his parents are killed in a plane crash. Evidence shows the crash wasn’t an accident. Neither was a recent explosion that destroyed Luca’s house. When a fire is intentionally set in Joy’s home, suspicion points to Eric–and that’s not the end of their trouble.

Eric has been in his share of mischief, but now he has a chance to clean up his reputation. That’s hard to do when the only people who believe in you are the ones you’re accused of targeting. Just as Luca and Joy give in to romance, new information comes to light that could tear them apart along with Eric’s dream for a happy family. The three have to set aside their grief, personal issues, and disagreements to figure out who is out to kill them…and why.

Excerpt:
As soon as he walked through the door the smell of chemicals nearly drove him back outside. The odor was so strong it made his eyes water. He couldn’t take it anymore. “How can you live with the constant stench in this house?”

“I’m sorry. Mrs. Erving needed a perm today.” Joy walked in through the kitchen door carrying a squeeze bottle of mustard. “I was just making lunch. Would you like a ham and cheese sandwich?”

“No thanks,” he snarled. “All I’d be able to taste is that nasty smell.”

“How can you taste a smell?”

“You’d know if your olfactory receptors weren’t burned away. That stuff has got to cause brain damage.”

“Do you plan to claim it as a way to get Eric away from me? I wouldn’t put anything past a Wolff.”

Buy Links:
Wild Rose Press: https://bit.ly/2EmYPGj
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NocQ9P
Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/2IrWA8V

Author Bio:
From childhood I’ve moved from place to place, from Indiana to Florida, stopping in several places in between. I also moved from job to job; as a waitress, soldier, retail manager, dental assistant, etc… The one thing I never had to leave behind was my imagination. Storytelling has always been my favorite way to pass time. I’ve often been told I should write a book. Finally, I did. It was so much fun: I felt I must write more, so I have. I’ve been a student of Long Ridge Writers Group and once won a short story contest with Harlequin. I currently live in North Florida with my husband, whom I torture with crazy story lines and half written manuscripts.

Contact Info:
Website/Blog: http://www.sandradailey.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandradailey.author
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sdaileyauthor
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/sandradailey
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551048.Sandra_Dailey

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave Sandra a comment.

Furbaby Friday With Viviana MacKade!

I’m glad to have Viviana here to share her dearly loved furbaby and romantic suspense, His Midnight Sun.

Viviana: The first time I met Macdudly I was disappointed in him, and he growled at me. You see, I’d driven those 4 hours to get a puppy and yes, the family I’d bought him from told me he was six months old already and still with them because he was slightly too big for his breed (he was a West Highland White Terrier). In my head, though, I was going to get a puppy, not this already big dog with a crappy disposition.

(Macdudly)

He threw up in the car on our way back home. My jacket didn’t survive it, and I knew I was going to have to re-buy everything I got for him because he was not puppy-small. He kept the crappy disposition.

And by the end of the day, we were deeply, crazily, foolishly in love.
Mac was, hands down, the smartest, more emphatic, sweet, and funny dog that had ever lived on this earth.

I had just been diagnosed with MS. The therapy I was doing back then hit me pretty hard on a weekly basis, and I was trying to wrap my head around the idea that, even if the reaction to the therapy would get better, that crap was going to be the rest of my life. Mac felt my moods, and he would do something silly to make me laugh before cuddling close and nuzzling at me.

I took him with me everywhere I went: camping, in the snow, pheasants hunting in the woods close to my home. Mac loved running in the snow but with his fur so long, he always ended up blinded by clusters of icy snow on his face, and I had to keep talking so he had my voice to follow.

When I moved to the UK, my mom drove from Italy to Norwich so Mac could be with me. We visited Merlin’s cave and celebrated New Years in Edinburgh, sleeping in the car because hotels were way too expensive on Hogmanay.

He loved frozen peas, couldn’t stand grooming, and was the happiest when he dug holes and chased small game. Once we were in the Grand Paradiso National Park and I swear, I pulled him out from a marmot’s burrow by his tail… He was so going to get the marmot, and get me in so much trouble with the Park Rangers!

He was, simply, the best.
We always said he looked like Sean Connery (picture). He really did.
I’m still not over him, not sure I ever will, so until my son will ask for a dog, I don’t feel like having one. Even when that moment comes, it will be my son’s dog, the family’s dog.
But me? I’m Mac’s.

Blurb for His Midnight Sun

Tormented, fierce, and broken, sculptor Aidan Murphy has judged himself guilty. He yearns for love but pushes everyone away. He longs for acceptance but has lost the key to open his heart. Until he meets Summer Williams. Beautiful and smart, Dr. Williams promises haven for a man who believes he deserves none. All he has to do is let her in and risk his heart and soul.

Summer’s managed to keep her inner light alive, even through tragedy. She’s created a new life for herself and her daughter in Crescent Creek with loving, caring and fun friends–well, except brooding, breathtaking Aidan. She’s used to keeping away from his type, though. All she has to do is ignore the pull of a man who’s turning up to be much more than snarls and storms. Will her compassion and medical instincts let her?
Love can heal a broken soul and shake up a timid heart. Or it can unleash devastation and revenge.
Will Aidan and Summer survive the hurricane?
5 Star Read

Buy Link
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GDP26VB?

https://goo.gl/L8okF6

About the Author:
Beach bum and country music addicted, Viviana lives in a small Floridian town with her husband and her son, her die-hard fans and personal cheer squad. She spends her days between typing on her beloved keyboard, playing in the pool with her boy, and eating whatever her husband puts on her plate (the guy is that good, and she really loves eating). Besides beaching, she enjoys long walks, horse-riding, hiking, and pretty much whatever she can do outside with her family.

Find Viviana:
On her website http://www.viviana-mackade.blog/
On FB
On Twitter
Amazon Author page

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave Viviana a comment.

Furbaby Friday with Karen Docter!

I’m thrilled to have the fabulous Karen Docter here to share her wonderful furbaby rescue and gripping romantic suspense, Killing Secrets (Thorne’s Thorns Book 1).

I Never By Karen Docter

You know that word you should never say…never?
I said I’d never give in to another dog in the house. Two is enough…right? I believe I even said, at one point, that one dog is enough. That memory is a bit vague. After all, we tend to like big dogs and there’s just so much tripping over the Great Pyrenees or the Labrador or the American Boxer you can do without losing your mind and balance. The word move is not generally in their vocabulary. I think, in dog, it translates to walk between my legs. I’m too short for their translation.

(Baby Tucker)

But I digress.

When we lost our Great Pyrenees, our lab went into a decline. Piper seriously grieved over the loss of her best friend and we were worried about her health, so we decided she needed a new playmate. We adopted my daughter’s 2-year-old boxer, Mikka. They were already playdate friends. Our pet lives were full again. We’ve never (there’s that word again) had more than two dogs at one time so I figured we were safe from temptation for the foreseeable future. We’d never add another dog to the mix.

Famous last words.

I’m usually the soft touch. My husband can say no fairly easily, but I’m blaming him for the third dog to enter the house. Okay, I’m the one who carried Tucker through the door. Still. Husband’s fault!
I was minding my own business, happily working on my latest book. My husband had gone across the street to visit with our neighbor and his guests from Oklahoma. (We knew them, had even gone on vacation with them for the last neighborhood ride. We all have motorcycles. Ours is bright yellow and called Bumblebee, a whole ‘nother story!) He’s gone five minutes, I swear, and comes rushing in the front door and tells me I have to come see this puppy they brought with them from Oklahoma.

Following, with him talking a mile a minute about how cute he is, yada-yada, I was halfway across the street when it hit me, “We’re getting a new puppy!” So, when I met little Tucker I was still trying to wrap my head around where my husband was leading me. My resistance was down. It’s the only explanation. The next thing I know, our friend thrust this week old, maybe 10-day old (I can’t remember, it’s all a blur) bundle of fluff and cuteness, his eyes barely opened, into my hands.

(Teeny baby Tucker. Such cuteness!)

I was done. I was in love. I didn’t put him down again even after I carried him through our front door. “Never” became a leaf on the wind the moment I heard his story.

Tucker’s mom, a border collie, was run over when the litter was barely a day old. Her owners didn’t even realize she’d delivered her puppies until they heard them crying later that night. My friends took one of the pups to foster him. I didn’t know at the time they brought Tucker to Colorado with us in mind as his new parents. We’ve since forgiven them.

He was still being bottle fed and they offered to take him back to Oklahoma with them until he was weaned but I couldn’t let him out of my sight. I have to say, despite the fact I said I knew what I was getting myself into, I wasn’t quite ready for the reality of bottle feeding a puppy every two hours or bathing him as often as his mother would have or weaning him or….well, you get the picture.

I don’t think I’ll ever (variation of never that might come back and bite me in the fanny someday) take another puppy that young again, but I wouldn’t have missed Tucker for the world. We have a special relationship with him that we didn’t have with any of the others who were weaned first. My husband and I, and the two older dogs, are his littermates.

He’s over two years old now and really attached to all of us, including my new daughter-in-law who moved in downstairs. I think he’s in love with her, to be truthful. He runs downstairs to be with her whenever she’s home and has even been known to push his way between her and my son. We may lose Tucker when they move out because I’m not sure he won’t whine for his new girlfriend—he whines incessantly when he knows she’s home but he can’t get to her—but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Until then, I can honestly say that we’ll never add another dog to the household. It’s against the law in our town to have more than three dogs. Now, I just need to keep my husband from visiting the neighbors without me. ~

(Tucker at bath time)

Beth: Karen, I love Tucker’s story! I have two cats who were abandoned as kittens that I raised from infancy and am also especially close to.

Now for Karen’s exciting romantic suspense!

Killing Secrets (Thorne’s Thorns Book 1) by K.L. Docter Blurb:

Some secrets are better left dead.

Rachel James’ ex-husband is released from prison determined to reclaim her and her little girl — the child is his key to controlling the James fortune. Frightened, Rachel flees to Denver with the child who hasn’t uttered a word since her daddy went to prison.

Contractor Patrick Thorne wants nothing to do with another of his parents’ charity cases. He failed his own wife so abysmally she took her own life as well as his unborn son’s. After two years, it’s time to concentrate on the bid he’s won and the saboteur trying to destroy his construction firm.

There is no room for trust in either of their hearts. But trust is all that will untangle the secrets that dominate their lives, free a little girl of her silent prison, and save them all from a serial killer who stands too close.~

Excerpt from Killing Secrets
© Copyright 2014 – K.L. Docter

Denver, Colorado.

At the first crack of gunfire, Rachel dove headfirst into the garden she was weeding. Listening for the second report she expected to follow, she prayed Amanda stayed at Patrick Thorne’s house where she’d gone an hour ago to play with her new friend, Suze.
Gasping for air, she inhaled the rich, spicy scent of freshly turned soil and crushed nasturtiums instead. Dirt and grit bit into her cheek and the bare flesh exposed by her cutoffs and T-shirt. The mid-afternoon sun beat hot against her shoulders and legs, and all she could do was lie there and watch a fat bumblebee dip into a russet blossom three inches from her nose.
Had she run almost nine hundred miles only to die like this, grubbing alone in the dirt like a spineless worm?
A surge of anger gave her impetus to lift her head. She peeked over the flimsy wall of twelve-inch annuals between her and the street. A second gunshot rang out, belched in a cloud of black smoke from an ancient Volkswagen bus that disappeared around the corner.
Backfire?
She groaned, more relieved than embarrassed by her overreaction. Her chin dropped. Taking several deep draughts of the thin Colorado air, she worked to calm the pound of her heart against her ribcage. Her efforts made her head swim. A minute later she was able to push herself out of the three-foot section of garden she’d mown down.
Her nerves had been on edge since she fled Dallas on Friday, five days ago. If she weren’t so overwrought it would have occurred to her Greg would never stand at a distance and take potshots at her. No. Greg liked to look into her eyes when he meted out his punishments.
An icy shiver skimmed her skin. Each day that passed without his appearance should have reassured her she’d made the right decision to accept Katy’s arrangements with the Thornes. As long as Greg didn’t track her and Amanda to Denver, they were safe.
Problem is she hadn’t felt safe since Amanda was born and she discovered what kind of man she’d married. Now she couldn’t pluck enough weeds from Evelyn Thorne’s gardens by day to tear the anxiety from her heart at night. Her growing sense of trepidation kept her awake long after the morning stars dimmed above the mile-high city’s cloudless skies.
How could the justice system simply hand Greg a “get out of jail free” card? She’d always known the man had connections in high places, but how had he arranged for the evidence in his case—evidence she’d risked everything to provide—to disappear before he even went to trial? If he’d accomplished that feat while behind bars, how in the world was she and Amanda going to stay out of his clutches?
She felt like there were giant bull’s-eyes painted on their backs, that it was only a matter of time before Greg tracked them down. During their marriage the man would spend weeks, even months, laying meticulous groundwork for one of his cons. He’d had six months to plan dozens of new punishments for his betrayer.
“‘Til death us do part, darlin’.”
His words echoed over the expanse of time and distance, ringing a fresh peal of dread in Rachel’s breast. With one hand, she brushed clumps of soil off her tangerine T-shirt and whispered a small prayer. Please don’t let him find us!

***Read Killing Secrets, Karen’s first standalone book in the Thorne’s Thorns series, at a special discounted price of $2.99 for three days only, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, July 27-29. Dead Ringer, Thorne’s Thorns Book 2, COMING SOON.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iFFWmg
B&N: http://goo.gl/wsqVxB
Kobo: http://goo.gl/KM563U
Google Play: http://goo.gl/mogQqs
iTunes: http://goo.gl/pg58wN

Bio: Bestselling Author Karen Docter writes contemporary romance. When she feels the need to feed the dark side, she writes intense suspense thrillers as K.L. Docter. She’s an award-winning author, a four-time Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist, and won the coveted Kiss of Death Romance Writers Daphne du Maurier Award Category (Series) Romantic Mystery Unpublished division.

Connect with Karen:
Website/Blog: http://www.karendocter.com
Twitter: @KarenDocter
Karen Docter FB: goo.gl/6TXc5X
K.L. Docter FB: goo.gl/uD1iGL
Goodreads: https://goo.gl/bsswDd

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave Karen a comment!

Furbaby Friday with Kathryn Scarborough!

I’m happy to have fellow Wild Rose Press Author Kathryn Scarborough here to share her dear dog rescues and her paranormal romantic suspense, The Wild Mountain Thyme.

Kathryn: Some folks in our neighborhood post a sign on their door that says, “dogs welcome, people tolerated.” Although, I’m not that drastic, I do love dogs, cats, and most critters, except those with six and eight legs. I am thrilled to share my “Fur Babies” story on Beth’s blog and also to tell her readers about my latest book released from The Wild Rose Press.

We have two dogs and two grand puppies. A grand puppy of course is a dog that is one of your children’s. My youngest son’s dog, Fei, (that’s supposedly Chinese for ‘dancing air spirit’?) is one of my favorites. She is a yellow lab Greyhound mix and has quite a personality. My two fur babies are all American dogs; just like the rest of us in this country, a mixture of anything and everything.

My youngest son found our dog, Bitsy, almost 8 years ago wandering around the parking lot of a Kohl’s department store. She was half starved, dehydrated, and had every parasite known to man. We took Bitsy in a few weeks after he found her and started the long road back to health. She was only about 10 weeks old when we got her. She’s a very well behaved with lots of herding dog mix. Perhaps English Shepherd and Shetland sheepdog. She’s very protective of us and when given the opportunity, will herd the dogs that live next door. She’s had agility and herding training. Her trainer says, “she’s a character with an attitude.”

This is from a painting called, “Found”, by Walter Hunt a British painter who lived early in the 20th century. Seeing the painting for the first time was dumbfounding because I had never seen another dog, alive or in a painting, that resembled Bitsy so closely.

Our other dog is a ‘big brown American dog.’ We got him from the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, and he may indeed have some Golden in him. The little girl whose family was his first foster family named him “Barley’, but since that’s something I put in my Scotch Broth, I renamed him ‘Barkley’, and then I added the ‘Sir Charles’. He is a loveable old fellow, who had a very hard life before we got him.

The Wild Mountain Thyme:

There’s a serial killer murdering Irish-American tourists all over Ireland. Jim O’Flannery of the Boston Globe and Megan Kennedy of the Irish Times, are teamed up to report on the killings. They want to work together, but stay clear of each other emotionally; there was A LOT of trouble with the opposite sex in the past. But, Jim’s guardian angel appears, as a leprechaun, to pester and cajole Jim into getting involved with Megan. Jim can see Seamus, Megan can’t.
Jim and Megan trail the murderer to the west coast of Ireland, piecing together his motivation and where he may strike next.

An attempt is made on their lives, and only Jim’s quick wits saves the two. Megan disappears. Has the killer kidnapped her? Can Jim, with Seamus’s help, save her from mortal danger?

Excerpts:
The elevator started again, but jarred to a stop suddenly between floors. There was not a sound.
Jim felt as though he’d fallen into a vacuum. He stood very still and tried not to breathe. The only sound was the rapid beat of his heart.
A puff of green smoke rose from the floorboards. It wavered through the air and wrapped itself around Jim as it hovered and shimmered. Out of the swirling vapor popped a little man about three feet tall. He wore a Kelly green waistcoat, green breeches, green knee-high stockings, and green shoes with shiny silver buckles. Jim backed against the wall of the elevator as he felt the blood rush from his face and into his feet. His jaw slid south, and his heart hammered painfully
“I’m not trying to give you palpitations, boy-o, but you must listen. Aye?” said the apparition. The little man had a long, crooked nose, slightly slanted, pale blue eyes, pointy ears, and a long stemmed pipe clutched between his teeth. His bright, fiery red hair fell down around his shoulders in soft He had a beard of the same fiery red shade that curled in front of his chin, like he’d used a curling iron to force it into shape. He held his hat, an elf’s pointed cap, in front of him, as he stared intently at Jim. Jim felt the air whoosh out of him as he slid soundlessly to the floor of the elevator. And then he forgot to breathe. The little man walked up to him, nose to nose and in an undertone, he said very quietly, “Boo.”
Jim gasped.
“Grand. I had to get you breathing again.”

All Jim had to do was take one look at Megan’s stricken face to know that the guy had done plenty of damage. Richard was a type; the sort of man who was too slick for his own good. He had charm oozing from every pore. Jim hoped he could soothe Megan out of her hurt, maybe he could give her a hug and—
Those thoughts came to a screeching halt when, over Megan’s shoulder, he glimpsed Seamus scowling at him. This time the elf/angel stood, with hands on hips and his toe tapping, in front of a teeny, tiny gothic church. The leprechaun looked steamed, and for good measure shook his head. Jim raised his hand and with as unobtrusive a movement as possible, backhanded Seamus off his little tuft of magical grass, mimicking a fly-shooing movement. Jim turned his attention to Megan. She stared down at the top of the desk, idly picking up a file and then letting it drop. Finally, she sat and took a deep cleansing breath.
“He’s scum,” she hissed under her breath.

Get The Wild Mountain Thyme in Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Mountain-Thyme-Kathryn-Scarborough-ebook/dp/B078KB3ZHW

Check out Kathy’s blogs at
https://www.scarboroughbooks.com

I’d certainly love to hear what you think of the book.
Let me know, you can reach me at:
Kathryn@www.scarboroughbooks.com

Twitter: Kathy@kathy60snc
Facebook: Kathryn Scarborough, author 

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave Kathryn a comment!

Furbaby Friday with Andi Ramos!

I’m happy to have Author Andi Ramos here to share her delightful Furbaby and her fabulous debut novel, mystery romance, Gumshoe Girl.

Andi: Hi Beth thank you so much for having me on Furbaby Friday I am excited to share my buddy Baxter with you and your audience. Baxter is three years old and he is insane. He even looks crazy sometimes.

But Baxter has a special talent…he loves to dance. He gets so excited he can’t help himself. My friends always video him when they are over the house when he put on his little performances.

Beth: What a hoot! I love this video of Baxter.

Love that little guy. He was the inspiration for the furbaby in my novel, Gumshoe Girl. Mr. Muggles is a French Bulldog much tamer than Baxter, but has a lot of personality. Here is an excerpt of my story featuring Muggles:

Excerpt:
Rummaging through the overnight bag she had thrown together the night she left the Rat Bastard, she realized she was grabbing the last pair of underwear she’d brought with her. Crap! Borrowing clothes was one thing, but borrowing underwear was something entirely different.
When she’d put the bag together, she had only grabbed a couple of things, never imagining that she’d be busy investigating a missing person case. She tossed her bag on Emmie’s bed, snapped on her bra, and eased into a pair of dark washed denim jeans. She dressed them up with a teal blouse and a pair of silver beaded wedge sandals, then dried her hair, applied some natural looking makeup, and scrunched in some soft curls.
Back in Emmie’s room, she started to pick up the clothes that were strewn across Emmie’s floor and bed. Her friend would have a cow if she knew the state of her bedroom. Sheagan laughed at the thought of Emmie’s reaction; she missed her. Finally, she gathered her underwear and a couple of pieces of borrowed wardrobe that didn’t require dry cleaning, to throw them in the wash.
“Ugh, I gotta pack up that place. Humph, yeah pack. Where am I going to put all the stuff?” She looked down at Muggles, who had his head tilted to the side and was staring at her. “I gotta talk to Shawn,” she told the dog. “Think he’s come up with any leads on a place?” Muggles tilted his head to the other side. “No?” she said in a higher voice.
He hopped up on all fours and started shaking his butt. Sheagan smiled. “You don’t care that I don’t find a place, as long as you get a cookie.” Muggles started spinning in circles hearing the word cookie.
She laughed. “Well, at least YOU want to keep me around.” He stopped and looked like he was ready to start a race. “Even if it’s just for aaaaa…” he looked at her wide-eyed, “…cookie.”
The excited dog raced towards the kitchen, and she grabbed the laundry before following to give him his treat.

Blurb:
Sheagan O’Hare got more than she bargained for when her newly inherited detective agency lands its first case; a missing person, embezzlement, and murder. Sheagan’s out to prove she can hang with the pro’s, despite the constant reminder of her amateur status from an annoyingly attractive FBI agent, Colin ‘Mac’ MacEvine, who’s forced himself into her life.

How does she feel when an old high school friend hopes to ignite a new romance?

Will she be able to discover if detective work and love can mingle before someone gets hurt?

Buy Links for Gumshoe Girl — Currently on sale for .99:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gumshoe-Girl-Andi-Ramos-ebook/dp/B07CMZVJ9Zi

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Gumshoe-Girl-Andi-Ramos-ebook/dp/B07CMZVJ9Z

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/gumeshoe-girl/id1376902448

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/820388

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/gumeshoe-girl

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gumeshoe-girl-andi-ramos/1128555736

Author Bio:
Andi Ramos is a debut author from central Massachusetts where she lives with her family, goat, and Boston Terriers. Her love for reading grew into a passion for writing. She dabbled with pen and paper for a long time and eventually stopped pushing her amusements aside and started developing those stories into novels. One of her favorite things to do is to hop into her motorhome with her family and write while traveling down the road as they journey to various destinations.
Website: www.andiramos.com
Blog: www.andiramos.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andiramosauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andiramosauthor

Furbaby Friday with Karen Whiddon

I’m delighted to have Karen Whiddon here to share her love of boxers and the fine work she does for these wonderful dogs, and a book dear to her heart, The Texas Soldier’s Son (Romantic Suspense).

Karen: I was thrilled when asked to post about a beloved furbaby. Rescuing dogs is my passion and I’ve volunteered for years with Legacy Boxer Rescue here in north Texas. Over the years, I’ve fostered and adopted and currently have a full house – four personal Boxers (two foster-failures) and one foster who is currently considered a Keeper due to a medical condition.

So which one to talk about? I love them all in different ways. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to discuss my first foster dog, Katniss.

Katniss was brought into the shelter on the edge of death. Severely emaciated, she was anemic and covered in ticks. Her age was estimated at 4-6 years. When I stepped up to foster her, she was immediately taken from the shelter to the rescue’s vet. In addition to this, she had erlichia. My husband and I picked off over one hundred ticks off this girl. The vet said she was so anemic that if we let her run, her heart could stop, so she had to be crated. After a warm bath, we put her on a regimen of four meals a day and medicine.

Despite all she’d gone through, she still wagged her tail and was friendly. As she gained weight and her anemia cleared up, I rejoiced when she did her first Boxer zoom around the back yard. She got along with all my dogs except my grump old male Macadoo. The two of them got into several dog fights, so I ended up keeping them separated.

Katniss was adopted 7 months after I got her in April of 2013, but the adopter returned her in ten days because his vet learned she had kidney failure. Which explained the constant drinking of water and the fact that I had to take her out in the middle of the night every single night. I took her back, and she was put on prescription food and fish oil. This was in November of 2013.

In May of 2014, I took Katniss on a Home Visit for a potential adopter. The man (a single father) fell in love with her. Even the fact that she had kidney failure didn’t deter him. He took her to his own vet and had her checked out and then adopted her. She thrived there. I kept in touch and received many photos over the years.

However in October of 2017, her adoptive father called me. He was at the vet with Katniss and her kidney failure had won. She’d stopped eating and drinking and the vet had run tests and the time had come to help her to the Rainbow Bridge. He asked if I would like to be there – and said he didn’t think he could do this alone.

She remembered me. Despite her clear weakness, she wiggled her tail and kissed me. I was honored to stand with her dad as the vet helped her peacefully pass.

For me, Katniss will always signify all that is good about rescue. I still miss her, her dad does too, but she had 4 more years of a good life, being loved, than she would have. And in March of 2018, I found another dog for Katniss’s dad to love. A boy this time. The adoption is finalized and another dog will know a loving home.

Katniss’s pic and story can be read here: http://www.savetheboxers.com/beforeandafter2.php?dogID=3076

I have a book coming out in May called The Texas Soldier’s Son (Harlequin Romantic Suspense) To quote from my Dear Reader letter in the beginning of the book:

As a writer, every now and then it feels like a story is given as a gift from the cosmos. The Texas Soldier’s Son is one of these books. Writing it felt like telling the story of good friends, maybe even family. I was there with them, just recounting what happened. Moved to tears with them, frightened for them, rejoicing with them, and falling in love just as they did.

From the back cover blurb: “Jacob is your son.” A thrilling new Top Secret Deliveries story. Army Ranger Kyle Benning never expected to live again… or have a family. When he was believed dead in an explosion, Nicole Shelton gave birth to Kyle’s baby. Now she’s someone else’s widow and a prime suspect in a murder case! Everything Kyle once knew is a dangerous as a war zone, but he battles trauma and a killer to rescue the woman he loves.

Excerpt from The Texas Soldier’s Son:

No matter. He’d be setting things straight soon.
The 2013 Chevy Silverado he drove had been one of his lone expenditures. He’d paid cash for the used pickup, knowing he’d need something reliable for the drive west to Anniversary. Excitement jumped inside him, drowning out some of the ever-present anxiety. Excitement and, dare he say, joy. Because soon, he’d be with Nicole. He couldn’t wait to see her face when he knocked on her door, to pull her into his arms and breathe the fresh strawberry scent of her shampoo, to kiss her lips until they both felt as if they were drowning.
In his pocket, he had the only other thing he’d spent part of his savings on. An engagement ring. As soon as he and Nicole got caught up, he planned to get down on bended knee and ask her formally to be his wife.
They’d talked about marrying before he’d signed up for the army. He’d even given her his high school class ring as a token, proof that he was hers and vice versa. She’d taken to wearing it with a long chain around her neck, safely tucked under her shirt so her strict parents wouldn’t see.
God, he loved her. As his truck ate up the miles, he amused himself with imagining several different scenarios when they saw each other for the first time in over a year. His favorite was the one where she hopped into his truck, they drove out to the lake and made love right there in the cab.
Finally, he crossed from Louisiana into Texas. Not too much farther now. The hum of his tires on the asphalt soothed him and he felt more relaxed than he had since the explosion.
When the Anniversary city limits sign came into view, dusk had settled over the sky. The sunset colored the sky pink and orange, promising another hot East Texas day tomorrow. He remembered how everyone liked to complain about the summer heat. It would be a cakewalk compared to the temperatures in Kabul.
Instead of heading toward the small frame home he’d rented via the internet for the next six months, he drove directly to Nicole’s parents’ house, praying she’d be home. Parking out front, he jogged up the sidewalk, his heart pounding in his chest, and rang the bell.
A moment later, the door opened. Nicole’s mother stared at him, frowning. “What are you doing here?” she asked, the rancor in her voice startling.
“I’ve been discharged from the hospital, ma’am,” he said, figuring he’d kill her with kindness. “If you don’t mind, I’d really like to see Nicole.”
“Nicole?” She recoiled as violently as if he’d struck her. “Nicole doesn’t live here. She’s over on Broad Street in the house she shared with her husband and son.” A slow, malicious smile spread across her face. “Bill Mabry? I’m thinking you might remember him?”
He hadn’t gotten much past the words husband and son. When he finally caught up, the name Bill Mabry made his stomach churn. That had been the same guy her parents had tried to force her to marry when he and Nicole had been together.
“Well?” The older woman stared, her gaze hard. “Is there anything else that I can help you with?”
For a moment he couldn’t speak, couldn’t force the words out past the huge lump in his throat. Only when she’d started to close the huge oak door in his face did he think of the one other thing he needed to know. “Did Nicole even mourn me at all?”
“Of course not,” she said smoothly, without missing a beat. “Once the army notified your foster family of your death, she’d moved on. She was already married with a newborn by then. I didn’t want to disrupt her life.”
And then she waited, eying him with a certain mocking relish, waiting for him to reveal how devastating he found her answer. He refused to give her the pleasure.
Though his head spun, he turned on his heel, the military precision of the movement kicking in by instinctive habit. Somehow, he made it to his truck, unlocked the doors and slid inside. Turning the key, he started the engine, put the shifter into Drive and pulled away.
He started to head to the park by the lake, the same secluded place he’d intended to take Nicole, but instead he found himself heading toward Broad Street. He still couldn’t believe her mother’s words, couldn’t accept that she hadn’t waited barely any time at all before getting married and pregnant. For her to have a newborn, that meant she’d jumped into bed with this Bill Mabry guy right after getting the erroneous news of Kyle’s demise.
Had he truly meant that little to her?

Get The Texas Soldier’s Son in Kindle at: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Soldiers-Son-Secret-Deliveries-ebook/dp/B075XYJDHW/

Award winning author Karen Whiddon spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven.  Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years.

Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and five doting dogs.  In her spare time she volunteers for Legacy Boxer Rescue, Inc.  She has published around 45 books.  Currently she writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Harlequin Nocturne.

You can email Karen at KWhiddon1@aol.

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave Karen a comment.

Furbaby Friday with Author Taylor Anne

I am happy to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press Author Taylor Anne to share about her wonderful cat, Oscar, and romantic suspense, Smoke and Mirrors.

Thank you Beth Trissel for having me today, and a huge thanks for featuring furbabies on your blog. Our babies bring so much laughter and joy to our lives, and they tend to get us through those rough moments like no human can.

In 2012 when a friend’s family was rebuilding their home after a tornado ripped it apart, they discovered a litter of kittens out by the dumpster. No mother cat, just these scraggly little beings struggling to even open their eyes. They offered me and my hubby one of those little babies, and we could not say no. We had recently lost a kitten, Chewy, to some unfriendly animal in our back yard – not sure if it was a coon, dog, or the ominous neighbor’s cat, Big Yellow – (damn cat!). A little unsure of taking on another pet, we changed our vision and decided this one would stay in the house at all times. (We later learned that Oscar likes to roam and is restless inside all day.)

Well, five years later, Oscar rules our household. We try to enforce a curfew, but there are many times one of us gets up thirty minutes after going to bed to let him inside. He does not stay outside all night. Yes, he’s a bit spoiled.

I love a good storm. Rain, thunder, and lightning. It’s the best time to cozy up with a good book, or let my imagination run free and create my own stories. Oscar does not see things the same way. He is terrified of thunder. I can guarantee when the first crack of thunder roars, Oscar is in our closet curled up in a ball. I’ve tried snuggling with him, but he prefers to be alone at those moments. Guess he feels safe in the closet. So if the weather ever get horrendous, guess where I will be?

Oscar is my writing buddy. He lies beside me (with his paws or head on the computer) and snoozes while I turn out romance stories. A stroke across his back and he purrs contentedly. And when he feels energetic, he roams across my desk reorganizing my notebooks, pens, and highlighters. Writing snack time for me usually consists of cheese and wine. You guessed it, Oscar is a big fan of both. I have to limit his wine though. Lol.

More than that, he’s my snuggle buddy. Always right next to me during the day and night. When the words don’t flow from my head to the paper, I take five minutes to chill with Oscar and then get back at it. He helped me through both Up in Smoke books. Smoke and Mirrors is available now and Smoke and Embers will be available later. We (Oscar and I) are working on edits right now. So, back to work for us.

Please share comments about your furbabies. Pictures too!

Beth: I love hearing about Oscar. He’s quite a character, the kind of cat I love.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS  (Up in smoke series)

Book Blurb:

Will Graeme stand by his word to protect Abby, or does he have a sinister agenda of his own?

Blurb: Drug deal and Murder: In her fight for justice, Abby Monroe is forced to flee to protect herself and her family, seeking out the only man she’s ever fully trusted. Seeing him again threatens not only her safety, but her heart as well.

Injuries and Betrayal: After a close call with death, Graeme Tucker made some changes. No women, no danger. Just him and his beach bar. Until Abby shows up asking for his help and twisting his heart.

Lies and Deception: As Graeme and Abby struggle to stop a gang of ruthless criminals, old flames are rekindled. But all is not as it seems. Will Graeme stand by his word to protect Abby, or does he have a sinister agenda of his own?~

Get Smoke and Mirrors in Kindle at: https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Mirrors-Up-Taylor-Anne-ebook/dp/B01E2UPMYC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

 

About the Author

I am a romance author, leaning more to the suspense side. I enjoy the challenge of getting my characters stories on paper. Sometimes they want to argue – and they usually win. It doesn’t matter who wins that battle as long as they help me write the best story for you! I bring you romance and life that is comfy, cozy, and always fun!

I live in Southwest Louisiana with my husband. Our combined family consists of two daughters and two sons – and growing with in-laws and grandbabies. I love spending time with family and friends, relaxing on the beach, cuddling with my cat (Oscar), sipping on a glass of wine, and bringing happiness and smiles to others.

Other books by Taylor Anne:  HEAT FLASH, BRIDE INTERRUPTED, and A CHRISTMAS FOR SANTA.

Follow Taylor’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Anne/e/B00CHBBTFA/

Visit her Website Taylor’s Tidbits:

Follow Taylor Anne on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/TaylorAnneAuthor/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/tayloranne1234

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056662.Taylor_Anne

Thanks for stopping by.

Furbaby Friday with Author Charlotte O’Shay

This country gal warmly welcomes fellow Wild Rose Press Author and city girl, Charlotte O’ Shay, to share her furry friends and spicy contemporary romance with a dash of suspense, A Model Engagement. (Out 9-20-2017)

(Stanley–Charlotte’s Darling  Cockapoo Rescue)

Charlotte: Thank you Beth for dreaming up FurBaby Friday.

What a great idea! Even if they’re not doing something miraculous like the golden retriever who recently pulled a fawn from the ocean, our animals are the unsung heroes of every aspect our daily lives no matter where we live.

Pets are beloved in New York City and its immediate environs but the decision to have a pet here is a serious one. Because—space. People are wise to consider the ramifications of the breed they choose or that chooses them! City dwellers live cheek by jowl and their pets must do the same.

One of our first family pets when I was a kid was a mixed breed an adorable puppy, given to my brother by his godfather. Snoopy was white haired, black-eyed terrier mix, our city kid version of the Charles Schultz cartoon dog.

Snoopy was the sweetest of dogs. We all grew up with him. Mom spoiled him with a healthy share of the same home cooked meals we enjoyed. We were lucky enough to have a small backyard behind our apartment where he could play with me and my four brothers and sister. He lived a good, long life. I don’t remember him ever being sick or ever going to the vet except for vaccinations.

(Snoopy–Beloved childhood friend)

Flash forward to college, grad school and young married life—all in the city. No pets. No time and no space.

Then we moved to the suburbs to raise our family with a gorgeous Bearded Collie we called Chance. He was perfect in every way. Hypoallergenic: my husband is allergic to cat and dog dander. And playful: Chance loved to play and run (didn’t care about eating over much) and we had the space for him to roam. He stayed puppy-like till he was 14 and only slowed down in his last year.

(Chance–Bearded Collie–age 12)

Then we moved back in the city and bringing Stanley, the adorable cockapoo we adopted seven years ago along for the adventure.

He’s also hypoallergenic but in all other ways Chance’s polar opposite. We don’t know much about Stanley’s early years and we don’t know how old he is. He came to us with a myriad of health problems and a super sweet disposition. He’s never met a discarded piece of pizza or donut he didn’t like. It’s a challenge to walk him in New York these days. He’s arthritic and his hearing is going. Although he’s definitely a country dog, he’s adapted to the city, and he’s never happier than when he is snoring by my side as I write. He only barks when my husband and I embrace and then we always try to bring him in for a group hug.

(Beth: Stanley sounds super special. Love hearing about your furbabies.)

In my upcoming release, (September 20^th) A Model Engagement, fur babies play big supporting roles. My hero, Connor, has a soft spot for rescues and a house full of them. My heroine, Lacey balks at the notion that he might view her as a human rescue.

One of the many pet related scenes:

He hardly looked like a dog he was so thin. His hair was matted and covered with sand and leaves. He could hardly lift his head even though his eyes followed their movements, so he was clearly aware of their presence.

She looked up at Connor and murmured, “We’ll need something to put him on to carry him. He looks too weak to walk.”

“I’ll go back to the boat and get a blanket.” Connor turned away to do just that as Lacey sidled closer to the prone animal.

“It’s okay, little one, everything is going to be just fine,” she crooned dropping to her knees beside him. “We have you now. It’s going to be okay.”

It took them a couple of minutes to figure out how best to transport him.

“Wait with him. I’ll pull the car onto the walkway as close as I can get to him. Then we can both carry him and put him in the backseat.”

Lacey sat with the dog in the backseat while Connor drove a careful twenty-five miles per hour. The ride was a far cry from their invigorating, top down, whirlwind five-minute, fifty mile an hour trip to the marina earlier. On the way he called the twenty-four hour emergency veterinary facility. The vet agreed to meet them there and take a look at the dog.

“It never gets easier seeing what can happen to these poor animals.” Sally Vaughn ran an expert gaze over the animal.

“Who would do this?”

Story Blurb:

Lacey Reed jumps at the chance for independence with a career in the big city. But her naivety and ambition blind her to the lure of a blackmailer. With her savings gone, she has nowhere to turn when she literally runs into financier Connor Devlin.

Though dazzled by Lace y, Connor sees the desperation she tries to hide. His gut tells him to help, and he hires her as his fake fiancée. Now Lacey has a job, and Connor has put a bandage on a family crisis.

When the blackmailer ups the ante, Lacey resolves to face him down—no matter what the consequences. Does that mean Lacey will lose the only man who’s ever seen who she truly is?

Preorder A Model Engagement in kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Model-Engagement-City-Dreams-Book-ebook/dp/B074DPCV76/r

Follow Charlotte O’ Shay  at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Charlotte-OShay/e/B01FGUH8K8/

Find Charlotte on:

Her Website: https://charlotteoshayauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlotteoshayauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlotte_oshay

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Charlotte_OShay_author/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/coshayauthor/

***Thanks for stopping by, folk! Please leave Charlotte a comment.

Furbaby Friday with Author C.B. Clark

I am happy to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press Author C.B. Clark to share her faithful friend, Jazz, with us and a bit about her new romantic suspense.

C.B. Clark: I’ve always loved Tom T. Hall’s song lyrics: “Ain’t but three things in this world that’s worth a solitary dime, but old dogs and children and watermelon wine.” I’ve never tried watermelon wine, I like kids, but I love old dogs. There’s something about their calm, trusting gentleness that tugs at my heart.

My dog, Jazz, is a thirteen-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. That’s ninety-six in human years. Her eyebrows have turned white, her face grizzled and her eyes cloudy. Her once svelte, leanly muscled body has sagged, her back legs bowed from arthritis.  She used to be filled to the brim with frenetic energy and needed two long walks every day to tire her out. Even then she’d grab the old tattered soccer ball and beg me to kick it for her so she could run and catch it, barking in happiness the whole time. She’d leap like a deer over fallen trees, and race ahead on the trail, and sprint back, again and again as if telling me to hurry.

Now as I watch her struggle to rise from her soft bed and lumber painfully along a forest path, tears thicken my throat. Every once in a while, there are flashes of her puppy playfulness. When she digs in her toy box for a well-chewed stuffy and whines until I toss it for her to retrieve, or when she scents a grouse in the forest and her old body stiffens and she forms a perfect point, her tail wagging a mile a minute in excitement and pride.

A unique bond develops between an older dog and its owner. Maybe it’s their gazes filled with patience, wisdom, and acceptance. Maybe it’s the certain knowledge that time with your pet is limited. You relish every minute you have together.

I still take my old girl on daily walks, meandering from one smell to another enjoying each other’s company and living each minute to the fullest. Even as I write this blog, Jazz is lying beside me snoring contentedly. Every once in a while, she lifts her head and watches me as if to say, ‘We’re in this together, old friend.’ Yes, Tom T Hall had it right. Old dogs are one of life’s special treasures.

Beth: I totally agree. Older dogs are, indeed, special. Deeply so. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my dear Sadie. Jazz sounds like a wonderful friend and treasure.

Blurb for Bitter Legacy:

Sharla-Jean Bromley returns to her hometown after a seventeen-year absence with vengeance in her heart. From the very beginning, her plans go awry when she meets devastatingly handsome Josh Morgan, the man to whom her father left half of his multi-million dollar lumber mill.

Josh, suspicious of Sharla-Jean’s reasons for returning to town after such a long absence, vows to keep control of the company he feels is rightfully his. She is equally determined to prove she can run her father’s mill, even though it means working side-by-side with Josh, a man whose very presence evokes an attraction that is increasingly difficult for her to ignore. In the process, they must overcome a villain who’s determined to destroy both the lumber mill and their lives.

Will Sharla-Jean succeed and heal the anguish that has long filled her soul? Wills he and Josh find the passion of a lifetime?

Excerpt:

Fire!

Even as the dreaded word reared like a monster inside her head, a thin trickle of smoke crept out of the dark storage room. Terrifying images of flame, smoke and searing heat threatened to overwhelm her. For a nightmare second, she was back in the midst of scorching heat and roaring flames.

Using all her strength of will, she tore free of the chilling memories. Instead of fleeing, she placed one wobbly step in front of the other and shuffled toward the storage room. Her nostrils flared at the acrid tang of gasoline and smoke. With a shaking hand, she gripped the door handle and opened the door.

A figure burst out of the darkness, crashing into her, knocking her back.

She yelped at the pain of the blow and the shock of falling. A jolt of agony and blinding light as her head hit something hard.

Heavy boots pounded across the tile floor. Cold air washed over her. And then darkness.

Buy links for Bitter Legacy:

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZVR5LJ/

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bitter-legacy-c-b-clark/1126254341?ean=2940157509132

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bitter-legacy-4

The Wild Rose Press

Author bio for C.B. Clark

C.B. Clark has always loved reading, especially romances, but it wasn’t until she lost her voice for a year that she considered writing her own romantic suspense stories. She grew up in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Yukon. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Archaeology, she has worked as an archaeologist and an educator, teaching students from the primary grades through the first year of college. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing with her husband and dog near her home in the wilderness of central British Columbia.

Social Media Links:

Blog https://cbclarkauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/cbclarkauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cbclarkauthor/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15029617.C_B_Clark

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/C.-B.-Clark/e/B01BK61TQG/

(Jazz–a German Shorthaired Pointer)