Pamela S. Thibodeaux's Blog, page 109

Monday's Child series by Clare Revell! @ClareRevell

Happy Monday!

Yesterday I mentioned that my friend and fellow PBG author, Clare Revell is visiting this week and we introduced you to one of her latest releases, Turned .

Today we're spotlighting Clare's "Monday's Child" series of romantic suspense novels....

Monday’s Child must hide for protection,Tuesday’s Child tenders directionWednesday’s Child grieves for his soulThursday’s Child chases the wholeFriday's Child is a man obsessedSaturday’s Child might be possessedAnd Sunday’s Child on life’s seas is tossed
Awaiting the Lifeboat that rescues the lost.
(for more info Click on Link!)
Monday’s Child must hide for protection... This was not the assignment Luke Nemec expected when he came to the UK—babysitting a beautiful widow. It wouldn’t be so bad if Sara wasn’t such a hostile witness. Despite her complaints and continued jibes, Luke finds himself falling for her.
When, Sara Barnes is thrown into the witness protection programme, she becomes the “wife” of Lt. Luke Nemec, an American cop on temporary assignment with the British police. Despite Luke’s American bravado, she finds he’s kind and considerate in ways her late husband never was.
But things aren’t always what they seem, and Luke soon realizes he’s fighting a battle of two fronts to keep Sara safe. Loyalties are called into question, and he’s no longer certain who he can trust. Luke is way out of his depth. As the threats against Sara escalate, it’s a race against time to find her husband’s killer before Sara is silenced forever.
Tuesday's Child tenders direction... Deaf from the age of five, Adeline Munroe operates a hospital for injured dolls, but lately her quiet life is disturbed by violent, haunting visions. Perhaps it's just her unspoken fear--a serial killer has struck in Headley Cross. But Adeline soon realizes she's seeing each murder just before they happen and reluctantly contacts the police.
Detective Sergeant Nate Holmes has enough to deal with between caring for his orphaned niece and his current assignment--the Herbalist killings, so when a woman comes forward who claims to be "seeing" the crimes in dreams, he isn't hopeful she'll be of any help. But he knows her from church, and she inexplicably describes how each crime is committed. Is God answering his prayers through Adeline?
Adeline assists the police, yet more women die and she becomes the prime target of the killer. Will Nate crack the case before the Herbalist can complete his agenda--or will the next murder Adeline foresees be her own?
Wednesday's Child grieves for his soul... Liam Page, school teacher and ex-missionary, is a man with a secret agenda. Revenge. But when he says it with flowers, toppling a vase of carnations and drenching  a woman who just happens to be the school's landscape architect, he may have found a light in his darkness.
After an abusive relationship, Jacqui Dorne prefers work to men. It's safer. But Liam Page with his boyish charm and wounded soul, manages to change her preferences. Has God led her to Liam to help him heal?
When their growing relationship is marred by the reappearance of Jacqui's ex-boyfriend, they find themselves suddenly embroiled in a series of dangerous events --leading them to Africa and leaving them fighting for both love and life.
Thursday's Child chases the whole... Broken...with bits missing. That's how Niamh, senior prosecutor for the CPS, feels when she wakes in hospital severely injured with no knowledge what happened--for the past ten years. A tall man in a firefighters uniform claims he's her husband. While he's everything she's ever dreamed of in a man and more, she doesn't know him. And if he was so important why can't she remember? Was there something so terrible, so painful in her marriage, her mind has suppressed it?  
First on the scene at a horrific accident, Jared Harkin is devastated to find his wife one of the injured. He's already lost a child, can he live through this? Niamh survives the crash, but awakens with ten years missing and no memories of their life together. Determined to help her remember the past and their love, he sets about wooing her all over again. But are some things best forgotten?
As Niamh struggles to remember, the investigation into the accident reveals foul play. Did her recent caseload have anything to do with the attempt on her life? Or was it someone closer to her?  As bit and pieces of memory return, the attacker strikes again. Can she piece together the whole of her past before it's too late? 
Friday's Child is a man obsessed... MI-5 agent Patrick Page is on the trail of a drug smuggler. He doesn't have time to revisit his past when he reconnects with the girl who got away--his girlfriend from college working at a library. He's more than surprised to see sweet Elle singing on stage when he slips into a nightclub to gain intel on the club's owner.  Why is she working two jobs? Why is she using an alias?  Is she somehow involved?  And is her involvement with his suspect merely a business relation or is there more to their partnership?
Elle has a secret she doesn't want Patrick to know. His daughter.  She'd turned custody over to her parents, but now she wants to be a mother not just a sister. But her own mother can't seem to let go neither has she forgiven Elle for her past.  So Elle works two jobs and supports them both. Her one light is her music. The career she abandoned, and her boss has promised to make her a star. But now with Patrick back in her life she's questioning her choices. And is he interested in her, or does he have some hidden agenda? Does Patrick have a secret too?
  Saturday's Child might be possessed... Aaron Field is a farmer. He’s sworn off parties and bonfires, and being more concerned with losing his farm than anything else, he has little time for church. When his field is hired by the church for a Guy Fawkes night bonfire, Aaron is ill prepared for the feisty Welsh woman who steps onto his land and into his heart.
Meaghan Knight is a farmer’s daughter. It’s her job to make sure the church’s bonfire party runs smoothly, and if that means ironing out the kinks in surly Farmer Field then that’s what she’ll do. When she finds out what’s really behind his attitude, she feels ill prepared to face his history, his family, and the danger.
As Aaron and Meaghan join forces, they discover an evil so demonic it threatens not only the farm, but their lives, as well. Meaghan knows God can prevail, but first she has to convince Aaron not to give up.
Sunday’s Child on life seas is tossed, awaiting the lifeboat thatrescues the lost… Hattie Steele feels like the world is passing her by. Her entire life revolves around the guest house she runs in Headley Cross with her overbearing twin brother. He even attempts to undermine her friendship with a handsome guest. Not that famous ex-footballer, Callum Trant would ever give her a second glance. Hoping to regain control of her life, Hattie takes a well-earned holiday with her aunt on Penry Island.
After retiring from football, Callum Trant divides his time between the family business and volunteering as helm officer on a lifeboat. Danger is nothing new for him. But when he’s called out on a shout and finds the beautiful innkeeper from Headley Cross on a sinking vessel, Callum realizes his heart is in danger.
But could Hattie ever forget his womanizing past and feel the same way? Or will a dangerous rescue end the relationship before its had time to grow?
Wow! These incredible books should satisfy even the most advocate romantic suspense reader!
Stay tuned tomorrow when we bring you a Tuesday Treasure with Clare and another of her great titles!!
Until later...take care & be Blessed! PamT

Special Guest: Clare Revell @clarerevell

Good Morning!

I am pleased to welcome my friend and fellow PBG author from across the pond who is visiting all week!

Clare lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, reading, sewing, she's keeping house or doing the many piles of laundry her children manage to make. 

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of three registrars. Clare can be found at the following places: Website, Blog, Facebook, & on Twitter @clarerevell   

Today we are spotlighting Clare's one of her recent releases, Turned.

           Three lives torn apart by tragedy and one more turned upside down by misadventure, only a miracle can save them all from total destruction. 

Turned upside down by misadventure. Amy Childs is running late for a party, when she makes an illegal U turn, and hits a pedestrian—the brother of one of the most corrupt men in town. Now her brush with the law has her running for her life from those who want retribution.
Torn apart by tragedy. Detective Sgt Dane Philips lost his wife two years ago to a serial killer. He’s juggled work and his two daughters ever since, but can no longer cope. A live in nanny seems the solution. He knows he shouldn’t hire someone without references, but he needs a nanny and Amy needs a job. Perhaps it’s an answer to prayer.
But for all of them, the nightmare is only beginning as the events take a sinister turn. And only a miracle can save them all from destruction.
Excerpt: She got out of the car. Her legs buckled, not wanting to hold her up. She glanced to her right. The guy in the blue shirt lay on the pavement, surrounded by police and paramedics. A huge crowd of onlookers stood everywhere. “Is…is he dead?”“No. What’s your name?”“Amy.”“Amy what?”“Amy Childs.” She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene.“Have you had anything to drink in the last hour?”“No. I don’t drink.”“Breathe into this until I say stop.”She frowned. “I told you, I don’t drink.” But she did as the police officer asked. “Can I go now? I have somewhere I have to be.”“Amy Childs,” the police officer spoke firmly, pulling her hands behind her back. “I’m arresting you on suspicion of dangerous driving.”“What? It was only a U-turn…”“You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.” Metal cuffs snapped around her wrists and firm hands put her into the back of the police car.“But it was only a U-turn,” she repeated.“U-turns are illegal,” the cop said sharply. “And you hit a pedestrian.” The door slammed shut. Amy looked at it. It had no handle on the inside. She swallowed hard against the rising nausea as the car started to move. What had she done? Tears burned her eyes.The journey was short. The officers led her inside the custody suite to the desk. The place stank of sweat and sick. She gave her name and address and handed over all her belongings. The officer took her down to a cell and removed the cuffs. She had to take off her shoes and leave them in the corridor. The door slammed shut, leaving her alone.
Turned can be purchased from Pelican Book Group in Print & Ebook, Amazon in Print and on Kindle and Barnes and Noble in Print and on Nook!
Well friends, hope you enjoyed Clare's visit today. Tomorrow we'll be spotlighting her Monday's Child series so, if you like romantic suspense at it's best, come back by!!
Until later take care & be Blessed ! PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight: Joanne Tropello & Mr. Shipley's Governess

Good Morning!

I am off on an adventure with a friend in Lafayette, Louisiana today but wanted to take a moment to say hello and to welcome you and my guest Joanne to the spotlight.

Joanne Troppello is an author of inspirational and romantic suspense novels. She and her husband are Network Marketing Coaches and owners of Mustard Seed Marketing Group, LLC. They have several active blogs and readers are encouraged to visit their Author's Corner Blog, a place for authors and readers to connect. They host various blog parties throughout the year and many guest authors stop by to meet with readers. Connect with Joanne at the following places! Website  The Author's Corner Blog  Connect on Twitter  Connect on Facebook Connect on Goodreads
Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' deaths. Unable to live in their home any longer, she takes a job as a live-in tutor to Anastasia Shipley to remove herself from her painful memories and the feeling that God has abandoned her.

Anastasia has an illness that has prevented her from ever attending school and makes her father, Sebastian, over protective.

When Sophie first meets Sebastian, she cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward him. When an unexpected romance begins between them, she starts to rebuild her relationship with God, with the help of a certain little girl.
Excerpt: Sebastian leaned against the doorframe of the library, amused that Sophie continued reading, oblivious to his intrusion.  He watched her scrunch up her face in consternation, engrossed in the book.  “So, who do you like better, me or Mr. Knightly?”  He heard her sharp intake of breath.  She nearly dropped the book as she turned to look at her intruder.
“Definitely, that would be Mr. Knightly; he doesn’t have the habit of sneaking up on me.”
Sebastian sauntered into the room and sat in the chair opposite her.  “Yes, he’s so charming.  I hope to someday be like him.”
“Hey, don’t make fun.  He is the epitome of the perfect gentleman.”
“Actually, I’m serious.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve read the same book as you.  It must be a coincidence.”
Sophie smiled.  “Really…you’re just trying to get on my good side.”
He leaned forward in mock surprise.  “Huh, I thought I was on your good side already.”
“That depends on my mood.”
“I see.  You’re all about a woman’s prerogative.”
“Yes, I live by that rule.”
He played along, enjoying the playful banter.  “Oh, so you’re one of those.”
“You’d better believe it.  It’s my prerogative to change my mind whenever I want.”
He fluidly maneuvered his way to the ottoman where her feet rested and he sat down.  “I hope you don’t change your mind about me.”
“Well, that all depends on you.”
“I’d better be on my best behavior then.”
Sophie got up quickly and before he realized it, she walked across the room to the bookshelf.  “So, you really read Emma, too.  That’s still surprising and sweet.”
He followed her.  “You’re avoiding any serious conversation, young lady.”
She moved away, running her finger along the spines of the books.  He kept following, backing her into a corner.  She leaned her hands against the windowsill and backed up as far as possible.  She laughed nervously.  “So, tell me again why you interrupted me.”
“I did it because I’ve wanted to do this for a long time now.”  He cupped her face, tracing the outline of her lips with his thumb.  Then he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her gently, at first, but soon his fervor matched hers.  She put her arms around his neck and moved in closer.  Finally, they pulled away from each other, both breathless.  “I…I’m sorry.”
She touched his cheek.  “Don’t be.  I’ve wanted you to do that for a long time, too.”
He squeezed her hand. “I should get back to work.  David’s going to wonder what happened to me.”
Sophie gave him a flirty smile. “Oh, I’m sure he knows.”
“Now try not to compare me too much to Mr. Knightly because there’s no contest, really.”
As he walked out of the room, he still felt the warmth of her lips on his and the softness of her body in his arms.  He chided himself.  “Shake it off, man.”  Then he walked down the hall in search of his brother.
Mr. Shipley's Governess can be purchased from Amazon in Print and on Kindle!
Well friends, hope you've enjoyed this spotlight. Beginning tomorrow we'll welcome my dear friend and fellow PBG author, Clare Revell for a week-long visit so stay tuned!
Until later...Take care, be Blessed and remember.... life is too short for anything less than total peace and unconditional love.
Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!  ™

#ThursdayThoughts: Alone in Love....

Good Morning!

Well today is one of those random rambling days and I'm sharing some thoughts on being in love....


George Strait's song Desperately has been playing on the jukebox in the back of my mind for several days now so I thought explore the reasons why.
The chorus says.... "But desperately, I long to feel your touch, but you left me all alone in love."
How many of us feel that way after a breakup or death? I know I did....
Still do.
But lately another sharp edge to those words have been revealed and as the thought takes root, so does the fear. 
The fear of falling in love all by myself.
If you've followed me for long you know I don't see single-hood as a smorgasbord of opportunity to meet members of the opposite sex, but as a jungle or minefield. 

Therefore you'll understand my sentiments.
So how do I/you/we overcome this fear?
Prayer of course is the first and foremost way. Isaiah 34:16 says, "Seek out the book of the Lord and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is His mouth that has given the order and His Spirit will guide them together."
I meditate on this Scripture and trust that in God's perfect timing I'll meet my next soul mate.
Get clear of what you desire in a mate...write that down and put in in your bible next to this Scripture. Go deeper than what's obvious in your description, list the emotional attributes you seek (loving, kind, generous, emotionally available, etc)
Write a letter to your soul mate and his or her guardian angels.

I saw this on Face Book one day and it made perfect sense.


Visualization is a wonderful tool so get pictures of couples in love, hearts, couples dancing or sharing a romantic dinner, hiking or running together. In other words doing what you'd love to do with your soul mate and spend a few minutes every day or a couple of days each week imagining you with him/her doing these things.
Be patient and trust. I know, I know, these are the toughest to do, but the most important thing you can do is have faith and wait for God to bring your soul mate to you. Especially if you find yourself drawn to someone. Get in touch with your deepest self and always be aware of your feelings and open to those around you. You may be attracted to someone on every level but if that person is not responding as you'd like, understand he or she may not be as into you as you are to them. Or may be going through some emotional healing/growth and is not where your soul mate needs to be.

In other words, have faith in the process and trust in the fact that you and your soul mate are destined to meet!



Most importantly, spend quiet/quality time with the Lover of your soul. Lean on Him for comfort, strength and guidance while you wait on His timing.



Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!  ™

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by @MaryConnealy

Good Morning Friends and Welcome to the first Tuesday Treasure of October 2014! Yeah, I'm not going to reiterate how fast this year has flown by. I'm sure you know too and agree.

Then again, maybe it has dragged on slowly for you.

Either way I pray you are Blessed !

Today it is my pleasure to bring to you a guest post by best selling author, Mary Connealy....

A treasure is so hard to explain sometimes. It’s not always the most valuable thing, nor the oldest. Sometimes it’s got a sentimental value that is priceless.



This crewel work picture is a treasure to me because of who gave it to me and how hard my author friend Erica Vetsch worked to create it. I know how to do needle work like this. I used to do a lot of it. But I haven’t picked up a needle in years. Even so, I know the long hours and the love that go into something like this. And Erica writes cowboys, too, so surely she at least was tempted to keep it for herself.
I had no idea she was working on this until it came in the mail. I hung it in a place of honor in my bedroom and now I’m decorating the whole room around it. And sometimes when I in that room I just stop and rest my eyes at it for the pure pleasure of having something so pretty, so right for me, and for having a good friend like Erica.

I don’t feel like the picture does it justice. Thousands and thousands, tens or hundreds of thousands of stitches in this picture of boots, which are so perfect I can’t talk about it without smiling. And Erica just did it because she’s a good friend and she has such a generous heart.
Boots. Could there be any better picture for me, with my romantic comedy with cowboys? I hung this picture just weeks before my latest book, Tried and True released with my heroine trying to live a life disguised as a man. And she hates it and wants girly things. And then here comes this picture with boots in feminine colors, just right for Kiley Wilde. As soon as she works up the nerve to admit who she is, of course.
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a RITA, Christy and IRCC Award Finalist. She is the author of the Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie's Daughters series, Cowboy Christmas, Black Hills Blessing, and Nosy in Nebraska and has contributed to several novella collections. Her latest release, Tried & True, kicks off the Wild at Heart series.
Connealy is a contributor to the Seekerville andPistols and Petticoats blogs. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters and a growing bevy of grandchildren to boot.
Readers can keep up with Connealy via her website and blog. She is also active on Facebook &  Twitter .


Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!
Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister-and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk-they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"-but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

About the Wild at Heart series:
Three sisters fought in the Civil War disguised as men. They were pressured into fighting by their father who was crazed to avenge his son, their older brother, who died in battle. After all those years, without being revealed as women, they now qualify for homesteading, with their years of fighting reducing the years needed to prove up on a homestead.
Living in western Wyoming on 160 acres each, with their father owning the fourth homestead, they have a real nice spread tucked into the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, a remote area where they can live as they please and no one needs to notice the Wilde family is made up of three sisters.
They've gotten away with it by staying to themselves. They homesteaded in the fall, spent the Wyoming winter mostly snowed in, but now it's summer and they've avoided town. They'll have to spend their lives as hermits to get away with this.
And maybe they could do that, except they've stepped on the toes of a big rancher who wants to drive the nesters off his land. Tried & True will be followed by the release of Now & Forever and Fire & Ice.

Tried & True can be purchased at Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook & Audio! Also available @ Barnes and Noble in Print & on Nook!

Well friends, I hope you've enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure. Stay tuned weekly for Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlights and of course, more Tuesday Treasures!

Until later.... Take care, God Bless and remember...If life is a stage and we are all stars in our own show...why not make is a blockbuster?! 

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!  ™

#SaturdaySpotlight: Kim Iverson Headlee

Hello!

Sorry for the late posting of Saturday Spotlight but today I'm featuring fellow author, Kim Iverson Headlee and ALL of her books!

But first a little about Kim in her own words...

I live on a farm in southwestern Virginia with my family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People & creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins -- the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-20th century -- seem to be sticking around for a while yet.I am a Seattle native (when I used to live in the Metro DC area, I loved telling people I was from "the other Washington") and a direct descendent of 20th century Russian nobility. My paternal grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of my novels. Another novel in the queue will involve my husband's ancestor, the 7th-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.

For the time being, however, I have plenty of work to do in creating my projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon's Dove Chronicles. I also write other romantic historical fiction under the pseudonym "Kimberly Iverson."
Now about Kim's books....
TITLE – Dawnflight, 2nd Edition SERIES –The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, vol. 1AUTHOR – Kim Iverson HeadleeGENRE – Young Adult Historical Fantasy Spiritual RomancePUBLICATION DATE – February 2013LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 415 pages/130K wordsPUBLISHER – Lucky Bat BooksCOVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR – Dorothy Dickson

First Edition: Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster, 1999                                   Find out more about Dawnflight & where to purchase it here: http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com... 

TITLE – Morning's Journey 
SERIES –The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, vol.2
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson HeadleeGENRE – Young Adult Historical Fantasy Spiritual RomancePUBLICATION DATE – August 2014LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 447 pages/140K wordsPUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove PressCOVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown
Find more about this title and where to purchase it here: http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com...
TITLE – Snow in JulySERIES – N/AAUTHOR – Kim Iverson HeadleeGENRE – Young Adult Paranormal Historical RomancePUBLICATION DATE – July 2014LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 386 pages/94K words COVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown
PUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove Press


Find out more about this title and the current blog tour here: http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com...
TITLE – King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court (KASIWC) 
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee
GENRE – Science Fiction/Fantasy Time-Travel RomancePUBLICATION DATE – 1 November 2014 (ebook); 1 February 2015 (audiobook); 1 November 2015 (hardcover)LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 350 pages/70K wordsPUBLISHER – Lucky Bat BooksCOVER ARTIST – Jennifer DoneskeINTERIOR ARTISTS – Jennifer Doneske and Tom DoneskeFEATURE-LENGTH SCRIPTS – Registered trilogy: adaptation of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain, adaptation of KASIWC, and original script The Once and Future Queen; all available upon request.
Find out more about this upcoming release and the blog tour here: http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com...
Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight!
Stay tuned next week for more Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and of course, another Saturday Spotlight!
Until later...take care & be blessed! PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest Post by James Russell Lingerfelt

Good Morning Friends!

It is my pleasure to bring you this guest post by James Russell Lingerfelt, author of The Mason Jar in conjunction with LitFuse Publicity!

Without further ado, here's James.....

I didn’t really begin understanding what loss meant until I was around 26 years old. I was spending every summer working with humanitarian and microlending organizations in third world countries, and I just finished my last year of seminary in hopes of serving as a professor one day.
When all my fine knit theology and philosophy on life came crashing down, I also experienced my first heart break. During that time of healing, I penned my thoughts into a letter from a fictional character in my novel, The Mason Jar.
But before we read this letter, I’d like to begin with a few words. We can love, love, love but sometimes that love isn’t returned. That’s not our fault. To love or not to love is a choice. We chose to love. They chose not to. This does not mean we are unlovable or unworthy of love. We’re not idiots, fools, or weak for loving. Rather, we have courage. Because we chose to be vulnerable and self-sacrificing; a requirement for love. And when it was over, though the echoes of the painful experiences reverberate in the depths of our being, we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and we keep pressing onward.
I’ve made it a rule in my personal life to never apologize for loving people, even if that love is never returned. To be unloving is the other person’s problem, not mine. As my grandmother use to tell me, “At the end of your life, the only things you’ll regret are 1) not taking more risks and 2) not being more loving toward others.” She died at 94 years and those were some of her final thoughts. Powerful.
Now concerning the letter, I presented it through the mouth of an 80-year-old grandfather to his son, Clayton “Finn” Fincannon. After a relationship ends between he and his first love “Eden” during his senior year of college in California, Finn visits home in Tennessee. At night, beside a fire, Finn recounts the story to his grandfather. The next morning, Finn prepares to return to California to finish his last semester of college. The letter awaits him by the door. This comes from my novel, The Mason Jar.
Dear Finn,
I know right now, all that is visible is seen through the lenses of loss and pain. So, I’m not sure the words I say to you will resonate. But know that feelings just are. Experience them. Don’t deny them or push them away. If you do, it will come out through other avenues like short-tempers and sharp answers to friends and loved ones who don’t deserve to be mistreated.
We do not deny our experiences, good or bad. We must embrace them. They are a part of who we are. The point is to keep from dwelling on the past or holding on to the bad times. This way, we don’t lead ourselves into resentment, cynicism and bitterness. If we want to get angry and scream at God because we think it’s His fault, that’s okay. He can handle our anger. God might not appear to care, but He does. He promises us that. We can give up on Him and give into the bitterness, but how much better off will we be?
You might believe that you must stop loving Eden, but that’s not true. We can love even when we know that love will never be returned. We are allowed to love someone even if that person is gone. What we miss is their presence, but that doesn’t mean we must stop loving them. As Maclean wrote, it is those who we love the most who so often elude us. But we can still love them. We can love them completely, without complete understanding.
Loving is not the same as holding on because “holding on” implies that we hope the loved one will come to their senses and return. Love is an action based on free choice despite the consequences. Love only becomes painful when it demands something in return. And though it may take time, you will find joy in loving those who might not even be aware of your love.
We must love people enough to enrich our lives while we have them, but not give them so much power that they impoverish our lives when they are gone. Our grief and pain are directly proportional to our love. The depth and level of pain are proof that we loved. And anytime we choose to love anyone, there is the risk that such love will not be returned. Despite the lies you will tell yourself, life is more fulfilling and worthy of living if we love and lose than if we never love at all.
Understand, son, that we can only help those who have hit rock bottom when we ourselves have seen existence through that same lens. Therefore, you can use the pain you’ve experienced to ease the pain in others. This does not mean God purposefully inflicts pain or is the author of loss, nor does it mean that every time we experience loss or pain that God is behind the cause. But it does mean that God can take the bad things and turn them into beautiful things. But that takes time. It cannot happen overnight. There are always more questions than answers when it comes to life and the Infinite.
Remember we become what our minds dwell on. It’s proven in cognitive psychology that if we dwell on negative thoughts, we become negative people. “A man reaps what he sows.” If we live in the past, in a world that we cannot change, we only grow estranged from the present. We stop growing and decay. If the past brings good memories, let them brighten your present day, but do not long for their return or dwell on them. For it is the present day that must be taken care of if we are to expect to live fruitfully tomorrow.
Understanding our past helps us understand ourselves, but remember, we are shaped by our past – we are not bound by it.
I love you,Grandpa

Wow...did this hit home for me today! Especially the second paragraph which I have in bold/italics. In fact, I asked God earlier this week for a sign about a situation in my life right now. 
Funny how He answers.
James Russell Lingerfelt is the author of The Mason Jar and writes articles for The Huffington Post. James connects with readers at his blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective, and divides his time between Southern California and his family’s ranch in Alabama. Find him online: website, Twitter, Facebook. The Mason Jar , a coming of age love story, was written to help readers find healing after broken and severed relationships. 
The Mason Jar is available @ Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback and on Kindle and I've just added it to my wish list!
Well Friends, I hope you've enjoyed this guest post as much as I have. Check back weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlights and Tuesday Treasures!
Until next time...take care, God Bless and remember.... Let love be the driving force behind your every thought, word and deed!
Pamela S Thibodeaux "Inspirational with an Edge!"

#TuesdayTreasure: Being the Vessel by Donna B Snow!

Good Morning Friends,

Welcome to the last edition of Tuesday Treasure for September 2014. 

Seriously?!! Where has this year gone?

Today it is my pleasure to share with you some thoughts by my dear friend Donna B Snow on being a vessel for God.....


You know, oddly enough, I have no advice. Well, of course, that’s not all true. We all have advice…well, opinions. Yeah, that’s what it is, opinion, and yeah we all have one, can’t help it. I think it’s one of those chromosomes we all carry that’s planted on us when we’re born. (Sure wish some of us didn’t have it…I wonder if they can be removed?)
Anyway, I am no expert – on anything, although I am certainly happy to share the words that God puts on my heart from time to time. If they were all my own words, well, then they would be pretty worthless, but I know when He has something to say because I just can’t hold the words back, can’t keep them in. Sometimes it’s a song I have to write, sometimes a story to share, sometimes words I actually have to speak…yeah, those are the hardest.
 And then sometimes it’s prayer. There are no greater words, no more meaningful messages than the ones that touch your heart and have to be lifted up. I don’t understand why, but I know that God puts people/situations/places on my heart and it becomes so heavy that I just have to lift it up to Him. BUT HE PUT IT THERE!!
…and I’m grateful…grateful to be called on, grateful to be used, grateful to be deemed worthy of being the one to come before His throne. So when you feel that burden, don’t hesitate. Don’t doubt for a moment, just let Him use you as the vessel you were made to be. You see, He made you, perhaps for just that moment, or many more like it, whatever, but you are the one He chose. Don’t miss the call! Don’t leave a gap! May His Spirit find you ready and willing to be the light.
Donna is a native New Englander and has lived there all her life except for a year in northern California (which reminded her of home). She  loves the change of seasons and the beauty each one brings. and says there is no place else that will ever feel like home.
She's been married for 20+ years and has one daughter in college. 
An active member in her church, she is a member of the choir (along with her daughter), and she writes not just stories, but her own music as well (that she hopes to get published also).

Now here's a peek at Donna's book, Precious Embrace....
Laura Senton loves running her own kitchen at A Piece of
Heaven along with her best friend Trina. When her teenage crush appears she tries to hide from him as well as her own feelings which have never died.Sean has no idea why Laura tries to avoid him but he’s very determined to rekindle their relationship of years ago.Both covet the memories of their time together, but sins of the past can be a tough hurdle to get over.
Excerpt: Laura went straight into the sanctuary, not stopping until she dropped to her knees near the altar.             Oh God, I know You’ve forgiven me, but I don’t understand how. How can I forgive myself? I don’t understand how You can forgive me for the things I did…for destroying the life that was growing in me. It was just as bad as having an abortion. Tears rolled down her face. I knew I was pregnant and I didn’t care! The drugs and drinking and…oh God, You know everything I’ve done. I don’t deserve Your mercy or Your grace. Laura jerked when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Dee, the pastor’s wife, knelt beside her. She wrapped her in a hug and started praying. Laura just listened to the kind, caring words and let them flow through her. She could feel God’s love, could hear His words, His message to her to let go of the past, that all was forgiven…that she didn’t have to understand how.
Wow, a perfect example of the power of prayer and being a vessel!
I pray you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure and will come back often for more as well as Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!
Until later...take care, God Bless and remember.... When the going gets tough, the tough get on their knees.
Pamela S Thibodeaux "Inspirational with an Edge!"

#SaturdaySpotlight: #TheInheritance

Good Morning!

My guest today was unable to be here so I thought I'd spotlight one of my books for you so here goes....

The Inheritance is about the chance we all long for…the chance to start over. Widowed at age thirty-nine and suffering from empty nest syndrome, Rebecca Sinclair is overshadowed by grief and loneliness.  Her husband has been deceased for a year, her oldest child has moved to New York in pursuit of an acting career and her youngest child is attending college in France. Having spent over half of her life as a wife and mother, she has no idea what God has in store for her now.  Will an unexpected inheritance in the wine country of New York bring meaning and purpose to her life and give her the courage to love again?  

US Postal worker Raymond Jacobey has been in love with the little widow since he first set eyes on her.  A wanderer searching for the ever-illusive soul mate, Ray has never stayed in one place too long. Raised by self-centered, high-power executives, he’s longed for the idyllic life of residing in a cozy house in a small town with the love of his life. Will he gain the heart of the lovely widow or will he lose her to the wine country of New York?   

Excerpt: The icy New York weather matched the chill in Rebecca’s heart. Sitting at the kitchen table within the warmth of the cottage, she nursed a cup of coffee. She hadn’t talked to Raymond in over two weeks. Instead, she’d spent many a sleepless night plagued by doubt, insecurity and unanswered questions. She thought about him constantly, torn between calling and leaving him alone. Although many nights of tears followed by prayer and Bible reading helped her come to terms with what she’d learned about her husband, she still had no idea of what to do about Ray.

“Oh, God,” she murmured, feeling an overwhelming sense of loss and sorrow. “What now? What have I done? What am I going to do about Ray? I miss him so much.”
Closing her eyes, she swallowed the hard lump of emotion clogging her throat and let the tears come. She heard the rattle of the mailbox then a knock on the door.
Not wanting the letter carrier to see her in such distress, she waited until he left before getting up to see what he’d delivered. Lifting the envelopes out the box, she caught a whiff of fragrance. Turning them over, she saw why. Scented stickers covered the entire backside of every envelope.
“Oh,” she gasped, covering her lips with trembling fingers. Hope flared in her heart. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she looked around. “Ray?”
The Inheritance can be purchased at the following places...
Amazon for Kindle http://amzn.to/19J6DxfEbook @ Pelican Book Group http://pelink.us/1cvBm29 Softcover @ Pelican Book Group http://bit.ly/1scLTVf
Well friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight. Stay tuned next week for more Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and of course another Saturday Spotlight!
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Moving Through Grief

Good Morning Friends,

You know I try to use this feature to encourage and uplift and today is no different despite the title of this post.

If you've followed me long, you'll know that my husband, my heart, my soul mate passed away in 2009 and that I've found myself in this jungle called single-hood. From the time I could articulate, my dream was to be married and have babies so I've never been comfortable being single.

"They" (whoever the hell 'they' are) say one of the signs of moving on is when you can look back without as much pain.

I can attest to that.

In the last five years I've done everything in my power to get through this valley of death. I've prayed, cried, loved and yet, there's still a place in my heart that literally aches and I'm not sure that will ever totally cease.

But at least I can say I'm don't feel as though I'm crawling through quicksand anymore.

Anyway, yesterday I saw this on Face Book and well.. it pretty much explains how I feel.....



 I believe this is true no matter who you are grieving.

A friend who recently lost a spouse said, "trying to figure out who I am now is the crazy part."

That too, is true.

No matter the fact you maintain your separate identities throughout the relationship, you still feel as though you're only half a person and that you have no idea who you are anymore.

But God does and He knows the great things in store for you!

So let me encourage you today.... If you find yourself in the pit of despair because God has called your loved one home, hang in there and when you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize it is not a freight train, ask Him to show you a new vision for your life.

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!  ™