Pamela S. Thibodeaux's Blog, page 26

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Katy Eeten @KatyEeten & A Heart Held Captive!

Good Moring and Welcome to the First Edition of Saturday Spotlight in March 2021!

We're still experiencing cold temps here in SW Louisiana. Highs are upper 60's - mid 70's but the nights are in the 40's - 50's and that's just too cold for me! 

Anyway, I introduced you to today's guest in November with her book, First Class Christmas. Today, Katie shares a peek into her novel, A Heart Held Captive. 

Physical therapist Cole Pearson has had his share of shallow relationships. But a year spent focusing on God opened his eyes to what he really wants in life. When he learns that ER nurse Emily Jenkins has volunteered to pay for a foster child’s therapy, he is inexplicably drawn to her generous spirit. If only he can convince her to take things beyond their casual conversations at the clinic.

Emily is a prisoner to her past mistakes and insists on paying a price God never asked her to pay. When she finally allows herself to grow closer to Cole, her faulty theology is shattered and her wounded heart begins to mend. But when tragedy strikes, Emily is sent into a tailspin. Can Cole help her grasp the freedom of God’s grace, or will she revert back to the captivity of her old ways and shut Cole out of her life for good?

Excerpt:

What am I doing? Emily shook her head as she gazed into the bathroom mirror on Friday morning. How had she gone from seven years of solitude and contentment to suddenly longing to see a man whom she had only met a month ago? Was this really what God wanted for her? She wasn’t sure, but the fact remained, she was enamored with Cole.

While a batch of cookies baked in the oven, she assembled sandwiches and put fruit, chips and bottled water in a small cooler for their lunch date. She arrived at PT Possibilities as Cole was giving a goodbye fist bump to a young girl in the entryway. The girl left, and Cole smiled at Emily. “Perfect timing. Do you mind if we eat outside?” 

“That would be great. It’s a beautiful day.”

“Okay good. There’s a picnic table out back. One sec.” He turned to the receptionist at the front desk. “Shannon, can you add these notes into Megan’s file and make a copy of this form for me?”

The woman nodded as she took the papers from Cole. “Thanks. By the way, I’m clocking out for lunch now.” Then he turned toward Emily. “Alright, let’s head out.”

They walked to the back of the facility and out a rear door Emily didn’t realize existed. She spotted the picnic table, and though it wasn’t exactly picturesque next to a dumpster, it would do the trick. After placing her cooler on the table, she unloaded the food she’d packed. Out of nowhere, two hands gently slid around her waist from behind.

“I didn’t get a proper hello.” Cole’s voice was lighthearted as he leaned his chest against her back, squeezing her tight.

“Ah, I was not aware of the rules. My apologies.” Emily’s breath caught in her throat at the unexpected backwards hug. Her hands stilled as she leaned back to enjoy the moment. “I hope you like turkey sandwiches.”

Cole removed his arms and walked around to the opposite side of the picnic table. “Oh yeah, I’m not picky. Thanks for doing this, by the way. My coworkers noticed I was unusually excited for lunch today.”

Emily suppressed a giggle, then handed him a paper plate and gestured toward the food. They loaded their plates and sat to eat. “How’s your day going?”

“Pretty good. Though I gotta tell you, one of my favorite clients is no longer coming on Fridays. So, it will be kind of a let-down when I get to the end of my shift. 

Emily raised an eyebrow. “Oneof your favorite clients? Should I be worried?” 

Cole laughed. “Okay, okay, you’re my favorite. Hands down. There, I said it.”

Katy Eeten is from southeast Wisconsin where she lives with her husband and two sons, ages 10 and 12. She works full time crunching numbers and analyzing spreadsheets, but writing has always been her true passion. She has four published books, all contemporary Christian romances available on Amazon. When she’s not writing or working, she can be found reading, baking, taking walks, playing board games, and spending time with her family. Find out more about Katie and connect with her at the following locations...

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KatyEeten

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

Website: https://katyeeten.wordpress.com/

Get your copy of A Heart Held Captive at Amazon!

Wow, Katie, A Heart Held Captive sounds like a great read! Good luck and God's blessings with it and your other books.

Hope you enjoyed today's feature friends and that you'll come back weekly for another Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Karen McCullough!

Good Morning!

Looks like Spring and Winter are fighting for supremacy here in SW Louisiana. We're turning our AC on during the day and heater at night and Mother Nature is arguing with Father Sun because we get rain and clouds and sunshine all mixed up LOL! But God is good ALL the Time!

Today's guest has been here before so please settle in and enjoy Karen McCullough's post about Playing with Story....

For half of the month of December, my daughter, son-in-law, and their four sons isolated themselves for two weeks so that they could safely visit us for the Christmas holiday. Even though, we didn’t see many of the friends and other family we normally would, we did have a wonderful time with them.

The four boys range from nine down to three and all have very different personalities. But a couple of things they have in common: they all have vivid imaginations and no fear in setting them loose.

The picture shows what happened when a couple of them were handed a box of Mr. Potato-head pieces. They had already done the standard silly faces and mixed up limbs for a while but got bored with being conventional.

The older boys got several robot kits of various sorts for Christmas. (It was a theme this year, and they do love robots!) Most seemed to require adult assistance to get them put together right, but a couple still refused to function properly. They got set aside for a bit. A few days ago my daughter let me know that the boys had gotten out those kits again, spent days noodling around with them and finally got everything working, one way or another. Directions apparently had only a minimal role in that happening.

I’m well aware that it’s not fool-proof, but the point is that by playing with these sets, they actually achieved better results than the adults who slavishly tried to follow the (frequently enigmatic) directions.

I try to do something similar when I approach creating a story. I’m pretty much a seat-of-the-pants writer, meaning I don’t pre-plot short stories or novels. I start with an idea, usually an opening scene or two and a vague notion of where I think it’s going to go. Then I sit down and write and see what my brain comes up with. 

Occasionally, the story will just work right out of my mind and onto the paper. I love when that happens. More often, though, I’ll write scenes, incidents, and in the process, I’ll find the core of the characters and unearth the story. More often it comes out as something equivalent to the Potato-Head mish-mash the boys built.

Almost always I have to go back and reorganize things, realizing I may have started at the wrong place or included too much of the background I had to write to find the kernel of the plot. Every now and again I get to a point where I realize it just isn’t working and isn’t going to, so I put that aside and go onto something else.

Normally, though, by playing around with the story elements--the scenes, the dialogue, unexpected actions by the characters and a few surprise revelations--I’ll find the heart of the conflict and the character’s arc. The process takes time. I’m not a fast writer, just a steady one.

Karen McCullough is the author of almost two dozen published novels and novellas in the mystery, romance, suspense, and fantasy genres, including the Market Center Mysteries Series and two books in the No Brides Club series of romance novels. She has won numerous awards, including an Eppie Award for fantasy, and has also been a finalist in the Daphne, Prism, Dream Realm, Rising Star, Lories, and Vixen Award contests. Her short fiction has appeared in several anthologies and numerous small press publications. She lives in Greensboro, NC, with her husband of many years. Connect with Karen at the following locations: Website: http://www.kmccullough.comBlog: http://www.kmccullough/kblogFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMcCulloughAuthor
Want to find out more about Karen? Revisit her previous posts and check out her book A Gift for Murcher
Greed, jealousy, and anger often lurk below the surface of trade shows and business exhibitions, but murder isn't usually on the program....
For fifty-one weeks of the year, Heather McNeil loves her job as assistant to the director of the Washington, D.C. Commerce & Market Show Center. But the Gifts and Home Decorations trade show, the biggest show of the year at the center, is a week-long nightmare. This year’s version is being worse than usual. Misplaced shipments, feuding exhibitors, and malfunctioning popcorn machines are all in a day’s work. Finding the body of a murdered executive dumped in a trash bin during the show isn’t. The discovery tips throws Heather’s life—personal and professional—into havoc.
The police suspect the victim’s wife killed him, but Heather doesn’t believe it. She’s gotten glimmers of an entirely different scenario and possible motive. Questioning exhibitors about the crime doesn’t make her popular with them or with her employers, but if she doesn’t identify the murderer before the show ends, the culprit will remain free to kill again.
Her only help comes from an exhibitor with ulterior motives and the Market Center’s attractive new security officer, Scott Brandon. Despite opposition from some of the exhibitors, her employers, and the police, Heather seeks to expose the killer before the show ends. To solve the mystery, she will have to risk what’s most important to her and be prepared to fight for answers, her job, and possibly her life.
Get your copy today at: Amazon  Nook  Smashwords  Kobo  iBooks
What a cute story, Karen, thanks for sharing! Hang on to those Mr. Potato Heads because he is now just "Potato Head" such insanity but we're not going there LOL!
Good luck and God's blessings with your books.
Until next time, Friends, take care and God bless. PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Wendy Kendall @wendywrites1 & Kat Out of the Bag!

Good Morning and Welcome to the final Saturday Spotlight of February 2021!

I am SO happy to say we've weathered the Winter storm and are enjoying nice, mild days with temps ranging from the 50's - 70's... my kind of weather! A little more rain than I like, but hey, spring is certainly on the way.

Today's as visited before so please give Wendy Kendall a huge round of applause as she shares with us her book, Kat Out of the Bag.....

My fingers tremble in delightful anticipation as I write because it's a privilege to appear in award winning author Pamela Thibodeaux's spotlight. Pamela's novels entertain, enlighten and encourage today's women. In my cozy mysteries I'm inspired by the extraordinary actions of ordinary women. Four generations join in the investigation in Kat Out of the Bag when purse designer/amateur sleuth Katherine Watson is confronted with a murder that hits too close to home. Katherine is opening Purse-Onality: a women's history purse museum. Purses show amazing insight into the lives of the women who carried them. At Katherine's gala opening, the town mayor is murdered.  Working to solve the mystery, Katherine matches wits with local cop Jason Holmes and his K-9 partner Hobbs. They disagree often, but discover an undeniable attraction. Katherine's mother and grandmother provide helpful perspectives into clues. Young college student Amber who manages the museum gift shop, aids in the investigation. They'll have to focus their efforts and combine forces to find that killer before Katherine becomes the next knock off.
Her great grandmother had survived a London bombing in the basement of a store in the rubble of a building and was able to crawl out between destroyed buildings on either side, despite her fears. A shiver curved all the way around Katherine's baent spine. Self-confidence was what got her through hard times. She could find the right answer to every situation through persistence, hard work, creativity and luck. Why was she giving up? . . .  Thank goodness for bargain priced old locks. She reattached the chain and pushed her purse behind her hip so it could rest on her back. Katherine had never been so grateful for freedom. She breathed deep, happy. That's when the lights went on in the room. Katherine froze. What she focused on first was the gun.

Buy Links:  Amazon  

Barnes & Noble,   Google Play,   Kobo

Wendy Kendall has a passion for purses and stories of the women through history who carried them. Her cozy mystery Kat Out of the Bag is the first book of the In Purse-Suit Mystery Series, introducing Katherine Watson an international purse designer/sleuth. The prequel novella is Purse-Stachio Makes A Splash. Wendy is a blogger, editor, speaker, project manager, and syndicated columnist. Catch exciting author interviews on her YouTube podcast—A Novel Talk. Also fun topics on her two YouTube podcasts – Wendy Kendall In Purse-Suit of Fashion and when she joins other authors on The Cozy Mystery Quartet. She's a hiker, biker and avid reader and loves her two sons, Alex and Brad and her Purrada cat.
Connect with Wendy on her Website and/or Facebook (Wendy Kendall, Mystery Author) and follow her on Twitter @wendywrites1 and Instagram (wendyekendall).
Thank you, Wendy for sharing your book with us! That is a BEAUTIFUL Shepherd! Lovely cover too. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.
Hope you enjoyed Wendy's post, friends, and that you'll check back weekly for more Wednesday Words with Friends and another Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Barbara Britton @BarbaraMBritton

Good Morning!

Well, we've moved out of freezing temperatures into warmer weather. Still below comfortable in the mornings but nice in the afternoons. More rain heading our way and I'm sure there'll be more cool fronts and cold snaps up through Easter. Speaking of which, we're a week into the Lentin season - How are you doing with your fasting, prayers and almsgiving or other Lentin practices? Whether your particular religion observes Lent, it never hurts to set aside 40 days each year to spend more, quality time with our Lord.

Enough from me though, let's welcome my fellow Pelican Book Group author, Barbara Britton back as she shares some thoughts with us on the importance of having writer friends. Take it away Barb!

Thanks for having me back on Wednesday Words, Pam. I’m sharing about some of my friends today.
Many people think that writers are introverts typing away in a writing cave on a story they hide from prying eyes. While many writers are introverts, a lot of books wouldn’t see the light of day without writers having friends. I am blessed to have friends who read and critique my writing before any publisher gets a look at my manuscript. I’m thankful for the comments that help shape my stories.
Recently, I sent my opening chapter to my critique group. Half of the group was confused by the first paragraph. They thought the dog was in the vehicle with my main character. The dog wasn’t in the car, so immediately I knew the picture in my head wasn’t translating to the page. 
Every writer has strengths and weaknesses. I love to write dialogue and action scenes. I struggle sometimes with inner thought and having a character reason their actions inside their head. My writing friends help me know when to go deeper into my character’s motivations or emotions.
Critique groups are also great for accountability. If I have a chapter due to my writer friends by Tuesday, then I have a deadline to meet. When I’m stuck on a chapter, well, I can ask for help brainstorming the scene. A flurry of ideas and possibilities is better than my lone train of thought.You’ve probably heard Proverbs 27:17. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”Building a writing support group is key to writing a successful story. Every writer has unique perspectives, talents, and experience. Don’t be afraid to have a trusted group of friends help you become a better writer. You could say that after my critique group on Tuesday, I’m crafting Wednesday’s words with the help of my friends.
After I finished my series on the daughters of Zelophehad, I was sad to end my time with these five brave sisters. In the most difficult of circumstances, they had each other for support and encouragement. The girls didn’t have a writing support group, but they had a similar sister support group. Make sure you have people to encourage you along your pathway to publication.
Where can you find a writing critique group? Professional writing organizations. Local writing groups. Online groups. Friends and family that will give you an honest opinion. Writing contests can give you feedback, but remember the comments are subjective and aren’t geared toward your writing level. Check local colleges and libraries, too.

BIO: Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Her Christian WWI Historical launched in 2020 with “Until June.” Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html  Connect with Barb on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or BookBub.

While the Israelites struggle to occupy the Promised Land of God, Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother. 
Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel. 
But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.  Find “Lioness” on Amazon.

You are so right, Barbara, having friends who are also writers can help us tremendously in our own endeavors. Thank you for sharing with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.
Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends, and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. You can check out Barbara's previous Wednesday Words with Friends post HERE and Saturday Spotlight posts Here and Here.
Until next time take care, stay warm and safe and God Bless. PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Fredric C. Hartman PhD & The Breakthrough in Two Acts

 Good Morning and Welcome!

Well we've had our worst and hopefully only freezing week here in SW Louisiana. Today should be our last day of below freezing temperatures - I hope! It's been years since we had snow (2018) and even longer since we've had temps in the teens, and trust me, we are just not cut out or prepared for this kind of hard, cold weather! Anyway, today's is the first audiobook tour of 2021. Hopefully we'll see a few more but for now, please welcome Dr. Fredric C Hartman with his book, The Breakthrough in Two Acts.

Author: Fredric C. Hartman PhDNarrator: Stefan Rudnicki, Gabrielle de Cuir, & Justine EyreLength: 6 hours 34 minutesPublisher: Skyboat MediaReleased: Dec. 15, 2020Genre: Self-Development

In The Breakthrough in Two Acts, Dr. Fredric C. Hartman paints a vivid picture of emotional pain and its context within the human mind and brain. Set in the dramatic backdrop of a therapy session as a stage play, featuring Dr. Hartman as the psychologist and Human Consciousness itself as “the patient”, this is a practical guide for anyone who struggles with negative or painful emotions. In his play, Dr. Hartman tells the story about our vulnerability to painful emotions, which flare up from the depths of our brains, casting distressing and destructive spells over us. As the play unfolds, he develops two new experiences to help strengthen our consciousness: one, by actively breaking the spell of the two thoughts that lie at the heart - and generate the distress - in each of our negative emotions, and two, by embracing the strange, fleeting collection of conditions that come along with the present moments of our lives as they each flash by. The Breakthrough in Two Acts is an appeal to humanity and a plan for how to use one “part” of our brain - consciousness - to quiet down another chronically overheated “part” - the limbic system - that has ravaged our species with troubles ranging from emotional illness to war. Here is a way of thinking for hard times to help overcome emotional distress and embrace a calmer and more fulfilling way to experience life.

   Dr. Fredric C. Hartman has been a clinical psychologist in private practice for over 30 years. In addition to general practice, he has specialized experience in treating losses and post-traumatic stress disorder. He was a consultant for ten years to Hospice Care Network in New York where he ran bereavement groups with widows and widowers and support groups with the nurses who went into the homes of the dying. He was mentored there closely by Cathy Fanslow Brunjes who was trained by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. He has also worked extensively with the first responders to the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001. Website   STEFAN RUDNICKI is a Grammy-winning audiobook producer and an award-winning narrator who has won several Audie Awards, as well as more than twenty-five Earphones Awards, and been named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices. Website
GABRIELLE DE CUIR, an Audie and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has narrated over two hundred titles and specializes in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. Her “velvet touch” as an actor’s director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost producer for bestselling authors and celebrities. Website     
  JUSTINE EYRE is a classically trained actress who has narrated many audiobooks, earning the prestigious Audie Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She has appeared on stage and has had starring roles in four films on the indie circuit. Her television credits include Two and a Half Men and Mad Men. Website  Dr. Fredric C. Hartman's Most Beloved AuthorsWell, until I went to college I was only interested in reading Superman comics and that was a short stint. I never read what was assigned in high school. In college I took all science courses so I only had to read the same textbook over and over. It was after college when the gene turned on and I fell in love with reading. Since I couldn’t read a lot I had to select the reading I would get the most out of. So I went to the very greatest writers because their writing was the best and the easiest on my system. Frank Kafka (The Metamorphosis, The Trial) Ernest Hemingway (his short stories) Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) Ralph Waldo Emerson (essays) Henry David Thoreau (Walden) Charlotte Brontë (Jane Eyre) Virginia Woolf (essays are amazing) Lauren Eiseley (essays) H. Lawrence (novels, short stories) James Joyce (The Dubliners, A Portrait...) Click here to view the full tour schedule!

Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.

Sign up as a tour host here.
Sounds like a great book to add to your personal growth collection! Thank you Dr. Hartman and Audio Bookworm Promotions for sharing with us.Hope you enjoyed the spotlight friends and that you'll check back with us weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.Until next time, take care and stay warm!PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Erin Stevenson @ESQwrites & Home to You

Good Morning from FROZEN....

Yep, that's what it is here in SW Louisiana. We've had snow since Sunday night and it's not going away too soon with these freezing temps. I am SO DONE with Winter. Like you haven't heard that before LOL!

Today is is my pleasure to welcome Erin Stevenson back to our blog as she talks about her book, Home to You, another of her St. Clair family series. Take it away, Erin....

When it came time to think about design elements for the second book in the St. Clair Family series, Home to You, I got feedback from beta readers saying that they really wanted to see an actual home on the front cover. 
So the search began. 
**SPOILER ALERT**
At the end of the book, the characters moved into a log home (one of my lifelong dreams) so I started looking online for a good photo. I finally landed on the perfect one but couldn’t find it in any of the stock photo libraries, so I began to trace it to its source, and found it on a website for Town + Country Cedar Homes, a custom log and cedar home company in Michigan. It was their Stoney Creek model. 
I decided to simply ask them if I could use the image on the book cover. The worst that could happen is that they would say no, or ignore the request. So I clicked on the “contact us” button, and began my e-mail: This is probably the craziest request you will ever receive…
The next morning, I had both an e-mail and a phone call from their VP of Marketing. They were thrilled and honored. So was I! I offered to give them credit for the photo and include their web address. And they posted this on their website when the links were up. Everybody wins! Feel free to visit and like their page. 
I’m still dreaming of a log home. I told them that if the book gets made into a movie, I’ll buy a piece of land and have them build this home on it! 
Brandon St. Clair is one of Minneapolis' top orthopedic surgeons. Still crushed by his wife's sudden death almost a year ago, he's struggling to care for their two young daughters and find the will to keep going. Their one wish is something Brandon can't fulfill, and it breaks his heart. Morgan Anderson is a highly respected art therapist in Chicago. Her work gives her great fulfillment, but her personal life is lonely and lacking. A deep personal secret has kept Morgan from succeeding in any long-term relationship, and she's ready to give up. Brandon's brother is married to Morgan's sister, and they meet at a family event. Their initial dislike of one another plus the fact that they live in different states almost guarantees that they'll never connect. But sometimes God—with a little help from a pink-haired matchmaker named Rosie—can make what seems impossible, possible.

About Erin.....
Erin has been writing fiction since 2014. She has published independently and with Pelican Book Group and Winged Publications and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Writing is like breathing to Erin. Stories are running through her mind during most of her waking hours, and by the time she sits down at the computer, the words flow and time ceases to exist. 
Erin was raised in Illinois and has lived in many places in the U.S., including on both coasts, but is a Midwest girl at heart. She spent many years as an educator from pre-school through college levels, and currently works in training and internal communications for a global corporation.
When she’s not writing, Erin loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and playing in the garden (which equates to mostly pulling weeds) at her central Iowa home. Her secret indulgence is plain M&Ms.
Find out more about Erin and her books by visiting her Website.
Connect with Erin on Social Media! Facebook: ESQwritesTwitter: @ESQwrites and Instagram: ESQwrites
Check out Erin's previous posts HERE and HERE.
Oh my goodness, Erin, MY dream home is a log home also! Love that the manufacturer allowed you to use the picture on your cover! Amazing how generous people can be. 
Good luck and God's blessings with your books.
Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care, God bless and stay warm. PamT
**UPDATE** Erin is in Houston, TX and may not be able to drop by due to power outages but said she'll get here ASAHP.

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Beverly Bateman @kelownawriter & Death Southern Style!

Good Morning and Welcome to what is the C-O-L-D-E-S-T weekend and upcoming week this winter in SW Louisiana.

You've heard me lament before that I am NOT a Winter person so I won't bore you with that again. Instead, I'm just going to introduce our Spotlight guest....

Beverly Bateman has shared words with us and been in our spotlight before so please welcome her back with her newest release, Death Southern Style....

When Perrine Dupré dies under suspicious circumstances her daughter, Julie Ann Dupré, returns to New Orleans to find the truth about her mother’s death. She uncovers a family secret, hidden for years. Now someone is trying to kill her. Will the little dog who appears after her mother’s death help her? Is the sexy detective out to help her, or is he part of police corruption?
Detective Connor O’Reilly, a native of New Orleans, comes from a family of police. He’s an honest cop but realizes there is corruption in the division. His father may have died as part of that corruption. He meets Julie Ann, checks out her mother’s death and finds it was badly handled. Julie Ann deserves the truth and he wants to find it for her. 
Julie Ann and Connor work together to unravel the real reason behind Perrine Dupré’s murder, Julie Ann’s mysterious past, and why people want her dead, while developing their challenging relationship. Can they both survive? And can their relationship survive?
Excerpt:  Perrine Dupré hurried down the street. She needed to get home. Dark New Orleans clouds hovered overhead. Thunder rolled. Large drops of late May rain pelted the streets of the French Quarter. It sounded like hail as the fat globs bounced off the pavement behind Perrine. The ozone mixed with the scent of magnolia and the smell of shrimp and fish cooking in the area. 
The older African American woman struggled against the wind. It whipped her umbrella inside out. She clutched it tightly so not to lose it. Rain blurred her vision. Thunder crashes caused her to jump. She stumbled up the three steps to her front door. Her daughter was coming home for a visit. Perrine’s pulse increased and a smile sneaked out.
Perrine loved her New Orleans. She hated to travel, but two years ago she’d gone to New York to see Julie Ann and her new business. It was a mass of busy airports and crowded flights, but she’d enjoyed seeing the city and staying in her daughter’s apartment. Her daughter had showed off her new interior design business, introduced Perrine to a few of her friends and dragged Perrine to some of the typical tourist activities. Julie Ann had been getting her designing business established then and had a challenge taking time off to leave and come home. Recently she’d taken on a partner. It freed up a little extra time. Tomorrow Julie Ann would be home in New Orleans and Perrine could give her a big hug.
Juggling her parcels, umbrella and the key Perrine jabbed it in the direction of the lock. Finally, the key found the opening and turned.
Thunder rumbled a little louder, sounding like pins crashing in a bowling alley.
Perrine turned the doorknob and froze. 
One of her psychic visions flashed in front of her. Her shoulders sagged. A man stood inside. Her visons didn’t lie. She wasn’t going to see Julie Ann after all. And she'd miss their regular telephone call tonight, too. 
She wasn’t prepared to die. A single tear shimmered down her cheek. Her heart pounded. She clutched her parcels to her chest. Why now?
Lightning flashed. Thunder crashed again. 
He waited for her to come inside.

Beverley Bateman now lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta. She recently moved from the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada. Instead of vineyards, orchards, lakes, and mountains she has ranches, farmers and a close community. She lives there with her husband and her Bichon-poodle rescue dog. During the cold Alberta winters, she snowbirds to Arizona and does glass fusion, watercolor painting and plays the ukulele besides working on her latest romantic suspense. Hunted, Missing and Targeted are part of her Montana series. She also has her Holly Devine series; A Cruise to Remember, and a Murder to Forget. Don’t Go is her darker romantic suspense.
Find and connect with Beverly at the following locations....
Website – https://www.beverleybateman.com
Blog - http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Twitter @kelownawriter
Facebook Authorpage - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverleyBateman?ref=hl
Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/okwriter
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Beverley-Bateman/e/B008M01F5E
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/beverley.bateman.18?fref=ts
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7052567.Beverley_Bateman

Get your copy of Death Southern Style at Amazon!
Sounds like another great book to your repertoire, Beverly. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, Friends and that you'll drop by each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and another edition of Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care, God bless and stay warm. PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Valerie Massey Goree

Good Morning!
According to the National Weather app, we're in for some cold, wet weather over the next few days - with the possibility of snow! Yeah, we get snow every now and again. I think the last time was 2017 so I know the kids are looking forward to that. Me? Not so much. Alas, we'll take what we get and pray for the safety of all those Cajun's out there who really don't know how to drive in snow or ice. 
I'll be glad when Winter is over. I know, I know, I'm wishing my life away. I AM trying to take things one-day-at-a-time though and do my best and let God handle everything else. 
I just don't like cold weather - especially when it's raining.
Enough about me though. Please welcome our guest Valerie Massey Goree back as she shares with us her writing journey.. Take it away, Valerie!
My Writing Journey
I know you’ve probably read many posts on this subject, however, my journey did not start off well. 
I grew up in the former British Colony of Rhodesia, now called Zimbabwe in Central Africa. We followed the British educational system, and many of our teachers were from England. Although I believe we received an excellent education, some of the teachers were straitlaced and well, cold. I distinctly remember the teacher we had for 7th grade English. After we wrote our essays, she’d have us stand in front of the class and read them out loud. Then, she would critique our work and allow students to add their pros or cons. 
At the time, I didn’t know that I had OCD tendencies. I followed instructions to the letter. I had no imagination outside of the assignment. My math work was immaculate, not always correct, but all my columns of numbers lined up perfectly. 
The essay topic for this class assignment was to write about things we collected, for instance coins from foreign counties. My older brother had just left home and had given me his stamp collection. As you might imagine, the tiny square or rectangular stamps lined up next to each other on their special pages indulged my ‘OCDness’. Well, whoop-de-doo. I had something to write about. So I planned my essay, and began writing. 
Mrs. Teacher—I remember what she looked like, but not her name—walked around the room and commented on what kids had written. One student received flowery compliments because she chose to write about two of her collections. I could do that. I collected many things that caught my OCD ‘eye’, items that met my desire for symmetry, or variations in color or size.
I completed my essay on my stamp collection, then added a few paragraphs about how I collected buttons and liked to sort them into colors, then line them up on the parquet flooring in my bedroom. I so wanted to receive compliments and couldn’t wait for Mrs. Teacher to hear my composition. 
I have no idea what she said about my stamp collection because all I remember are her harsh words about how silly it was for a thirteen-year-old to be playing with buttons!
As you can imagine, creative writing was not high on my list after that. In fact, I hated writing and dreaded every writing assignment that came my way, even in University. I only began to open up to putting words on paper when I was in my forties. 
My latest novel is a revised version of the first book I wrote, way back when word processors were the rage. Although Forever Under Blue Skies, set in Australia, is my sixth published novel, as you can imagine, it is very close to my heart. My maternal grandmother was born is Australia. I relied on details from my great-great-grandparents’ family tree for my story, even to using the town of Bendigo. Now, my family never lived on a sheep station, but that’s where the fiction part came in. 
What was life like on a sheep station in 1983? Follow Marlow’s journey to find out. 
Travel to Australia to solve a family mystery? Sure, Marlow could do that. But she didn’t take into consideration the vast outback, nor the owner of the sheep station. Widower, Jake Barclay, is everything her late husband was not—honorable, considerate, a pure gentleman. She came prepared with sunscreen, but hadn’t built a high enough screen around her heart. 
Jake was dubious about Marlow’s reason for visiting his station and thwarts her plan at every turn. Until he sees how she interacts with his vulnerable, young daughter. 
If they solve the coded message, can Marlow return to Texas, or will Jake offer her a forever home in the outback?
About Valerie: American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides with her husband on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.
After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Glenn and Valerie moved to Texas. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs. Now retired in Washington, Valerie spends her time writing, and spoiling her grandchildren. 
Novels include: Deceive Me Once; Colors of Deceit; The Stolen Lives Trilogy, Weep in the Night; Day of Reckoning; and Justice at Dawn, to be released soon. Valerie’s latest novel Forever Under Blue Skies, is now available from Amazon.
Valerie loves to hear from her readers.
Visit Valerie’s website to learn more about her books: www.valeriegoreeauthor.com and connect with her on FaceBook. Check out her last post HERE. Get your copy of Forever Under Blue Skies at Amazon.

What a journey, Valerie! Thank you for sharing. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new book.
Hope you enjoyed Valerie's post, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God Bless. PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Hannah Rowan & Can't Buy Me Love / LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer's End

Good Morning,

Well, we're moving the RV into Louisiana, about an hour east of home. Amidst all this hurricane madness, my daddy passed away Wednesday (9/2) - Prayers appreciated. Alas.... the show must go on....

Today's guest is new to the blog so please welcome Hannah Rowan as she tells us about a brand new collection of stories! Take it away, Hannah....

After a long hiatus, I’m delighted to return to writing by participating in the Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End box set with 13 other Romance Gems authors. My Story, Can’t Buy Me Love, brings lottery winner Moira Campbell and wealthy ex-playboy turned handyman Noah Ramsey to Last Chance Beach. For the first time in her life, Moira doesn't have to worry about money, except for her concern about people wanting to take advantage of her generosity. Noah grew up with privilege and is absolutely certain people are attracted to his wealth. Both happen upon Last Chance Beach, where they are able to fashion new lives away from prying eyes and greedy outstretched hands. When sparks ignite between the two, both must decide whether to risk revealing their true identities to trust in love.

LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer's End, 14 all-new romantic short stories set in the island paradise where Dreams go to live again, and Wishes may come true. The beach houses, condos, and hotels are full for Summer's End, but there's still time left to find love, new romances, second chances, hot alpha males, heartwarming heroes, love at first sight, romantic delight—and time left for enemies to become lovers and opposites to attract.
Throw another log on the beach bonfire and celebrate LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer's End, stories created especially for this romance collection by NY Times and USA Today bestselling authors and other bestselling and award-winning authors. These summer love stories will thrill the hopeful romantic in you. Some are sweet: some are sizzling! Some are humorous; some are serious. All will make you want to book a vacation to this island of legend and love.

LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer's End, the place where soul mates find each other and love at first sight happens all the time!

Can’t Buy Me Love - Excerpt

One minute he was standing in the newly remodeled kitchen. The next he was nearly knocked off his feet, enveloped in a happy, squealing female body as she threw her arms around him, and improbably jumped up and down at the same time.

“Thank you so much,” she said. “You put in a good word for me, didn’t you?”

“I might have.”

She fit so nicely in his arms. He hugged her tighter, savoring the mix of feminine curves and finely toned muscles. He drew in the now-familiar scent of suntan lotion and some sort of citrusy shampoo, and finally gave in to what he’d been fantasizing about since his first glimpse of her stretching outside her car.

With her arms still looped around his shoulders, she leaned back, grinning up at him. “This is just the best news,” she said.

As he watched, her grin slowly faded. He felt the moment she grew aware of his body pressing into hers. Her eyes widened, blinked, and she licked her bottom lip. And that was that.

He threaded his fingers through her hair, drew her head closer, leaned in to taste those lips himself. She hesitated just for a moment, but then her arms tightened around him and she gave herself over to the kiss.

Seconds, minutes, long undetermined stretches of time passed while he lost himself in the sensation of soft lips, silky hair, seductive scent. His body responded with an insistence he hadn’t felt in ages, with a wonder he hadn’t felt maybe even since his first few romantic encounters as a young man. She made no move to pull away, and her soft sighs had his head spinning.

Finally, they pulled apart, but continued to look into each other’s eyes. Both breathing hard. Was she as affected by the intensity of that kiss as he was? He certainly hoped so.

Freebie:

 The companion to the box set is a free recipe book, Cocktails At Last Chance Beach, that contains recipes that our heroes and heroines may have enjoyed during their time at the beach, or which readers can sample while enjoying the stories.

 

About Hannah Rowan

Hannah Rowan wrote her first book at the age of seven, with blonde, brunette, red-headed, and black haired heroines whose names began with the letters A, B, C, and D. Oddly enough, it was never published. But Hannah has since been a local reporter, confession author, book reviewer, humor columnist, and magazine writer. She published romantic comedy with Kensington Precious Gems, and one of the first e-books back when people thought e-books would never catch on. She is currently at work on a romantic comedy series and a women’s fiction novel.

A life-long Jersey girl, Hannah lives in northern New Jersey with her hunky husband and two frogs named Fred and Ethel. When she’s not writing, Hannah enjoys her work at an assisted living facility, going to water aerobics and swimming, and taking long hikes in a new-to-her park with the Hunk as often as possible. And of course, she often stays up far too late, reading.

 

Find Hannah Online:

AMAZON | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB

 

Wow, Hannah, this collection certainly seems like a great bunch of reads! Good luck and God's blessings with it.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight friends. Until next time, take care, God Bless and remember to hug your loved ones because you never know when it'll be your last chance!
PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Theresa Hall @TheresaLynnHall

Good Morning,

Last month Theresa spotlighted her debut Love Inspired Suspense novel, Accidental Target. Today she'll share some words with us on prayer - perfect since many are praying now for our recovery from Hurricane Laura. But first, let's congratulate our August gift card winner......

LoRee Peery!

Congrats LoRee, I appreciate your support of my guests. Now, take it away, Theresa....

Down to the Ground

My husband recently took on the task of repairing our travel trailer. What we thought was a “small” leak in the bedroom with only softened spots on the floor, turned out to be a huge mess that had been going on for longer than we thought. Typical, right? I think that’s how all home improvement projects go. Thankfully, he’s great at carpentry and knew just what to do—tear it all out. And I mean all of it. Half of the walls, all the floor, the bed, the closets, everything! We could literally see the ground below.

My husband is still working on the trailer. It wasn’t a quick fix and it’s taking him a lot longer than he expected. We had planned to use it this summer but things didn’t work out. And that’s okay. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or what, but I seem to have a lot more patience now than I used to. Just like that travel trailer, I remember a few times when I was a huge mess and I needed a lot of time to be fixed. I would let little things bother me and, big things stress me totally out. I was torn down, right to the ground. Even though I prayed to God for answers, I wasn’t really listening to Him or I wouldn’t have let the little things get to me so much.

When we pray about our problems, God does hear us. He’s works on us a little at a time until one day we look back and realize how far we’ve come. God never wants to see us torn up, fragile, or defeated. He wants what’s best for us and in His time, He will see us through the darkest of days. 

A few years ago, when my oldest son became a police officer he told me he was getting a tattoo. Of course, I gave him the lecture about make sure it’s something you can live with, etc. I’m not a fan of tattoos for myself, but when your kids grow up they have their own minds. Needless to say, I was happy when he showed it to me. Here’s what it says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 

That is one of my favorite verses because it comforts me and reminds me that God is always taking care of me. On a side note, the trailer may be ready for some fall camping. I’ll keep you posted!

Theresa Hall is an award-winning author of Christian fiction whose stories include military, law enforcement, and first responder heroes. As a native Texan, she loves to write suspenseful stories that happen in small Texas towns with old fashioned Southern values. She’s also a first grade teacher who loves to cook, read a good suspense, and binge-watch episodes of Dateline and Discovery ID. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She actively promotes fellow Christian Fiction authors on her blog and can be found online at her....

 Website, Facebook, Twitter @TheresaLynnHall, Pinterest   and Instagram.  Accidental Target can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Harlequin.

I hope you get that camper up and running, Theresa and enjoy some fall camping. I don't know what we would have done without this RV during this hurricane!

Hope you enjoyed the post friends, and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. Leave a comment and maybe you'll be my September gift card winner!

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT