Beth Trissel's Blog, page 13

Furbaby Friday with Author Sorchia DuBois!

I am happy to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press Author Sorchia DuBois to Furbaby Friday to share her wonderful kitties and spellbinding Gothic Romance, Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones.

Cat Muses by Sorchia DuBois

I didn’t set out to have seven cats. In fact, I intended to limit the number of pets so I could do a bit of travelling without having to make arrangements for them. But Fate did not agree. Four of my seven are the direct result of my son who rescued two cats and brought them to me. One was pregnant and the other was in heat. Before I could take the appropriate measures, voila—kittens. I gave most of them away, but the others remain. Everyone is now ‘fixed’ so no more little accidents, but those I have are young cats which means I will be their enabler for a good long time to come.

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These are three of my brood.

Petunia was a gift from my daughter after the death of a much-loved black cat. At the time, we only had two others so I was delighted to have another black cat. Petunia is the queen. She does exactly as she pleases and must know everything that’s going on and she must investigate everyone new who comes to visit. She particularly loves to lie on my desk, swishing her tail across the keyboard as I’m trying to type. Some Siamese ancestor gave her a piercing, grating meow, which she uses to show displeasure or annoyance or happiness or just for fun.

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Zinnia is my soul mate in tabby cat form. She sits on my shoulder and pokes her head into everything I’m doing. She loves nothing more than to nap on my desk as I write. Sometimes she worms onto my lap so slyly I don’t realize she’s there until she’s wedged between me and the keyboard and I am wound like a pretzel trying to type around her. She likes to know where I am at every moment and has trained me to respond to her call. She’ll call until I answer.

[image error]Tadpole—At ten, Tadpole is the oldest cat in the menagerie. He was rescued from a short life as a barn cat at a place where their chosen method of birth control is shooting the older cats. I live in a barbarous part of the country. He is my protector from the evil canine who lives with us (a black lab of advanced years who knows her place around the feline members of the family.) When Tadpole puffs up and puts on his fighting face, he is truly terrifying. Otherwise, he purrs the loudest of any of my cats and rolls on his back for a tummy rub if cast your eyes in his direction.

They are indoor-outdoor cats—I live at the end of a long lane with no neighbors nearby and no busy roads to worry about. There are trees to climb, woodland creatures to chase, and warm spots to lie in the sun. It’s really Cat Heaven here. They come and go as they please through the cat door and are happy to share the house with us. While I would never give any one of them up, I am not looking for any more cats.

Tadpole made a guest appearance in my first book, Just Like Gravity, but Petunia and Zinnia oversee the writing of my Zoraida Grey series. They insisted that cats be featured in the books and I have complied with my feline masters.

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Blurb

Granny’s dying, but Zoraida can save her with a magic crystal of smoky quartz. Too bad the crystal is in Scotland––in a haunted castle––guarded by mind-reading, psychopathic sorcerers.

Getting inside Castle Logan is easy. Getting out––not so much. Before she can snatch the stone, Zoraida stumbles into a family feud, uncovers a wicked ancient curse, and finds herself ensorcelled by not one but two handsome Scottish witches. Up to their necks in family intrigue and smack-dab in the middle of a simmering clan war, Zoraida and her best friend Zhu discover Granny hasn’t told them everything.

Not by a long shot.

Excerpt from Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones.

“That crystal belongs to us.” No trace of tears lingers in her voice, that’s for sure. Her tone would make a black bear tuck in his tail. “It’s a Healing Stone, and it’s the only thing that will keep me alive. You have to go steal it back for me, Zoraida.”

“I can’t just pick up and go to Scotland anytime I want to, you know. My life is complicated. I have a house and a business. Who’ll take care of Johnny Lee Hooker?”

“Cats don’t need no tending. Johnny Lee will be glad to have you out of his way, I reckon. That man of yours can manage it.”

“His name is Al,” I say. “We broke up anyway.”

She snorts. “I’ll believe it when I see it. You ain’t never known what was good for you.”

“Al is good. He’s sweet, and he takes care of things for me. Even you can’t say he hasn’t been good to me.”

She’s never approved of Al and me as a couple. I don’t want her to feel like she’s won this battle just because he and I aren’t together anymore. At least, we aren’t as together as we usually are. It’s complicated.

“I never said he wasn’t good. I said you didn’t know what was good for you. You ain’t got no sense when it comes to men, neither.” She flashes me an I-told- you-so look. “But that ain’t what we’re talking about right now. Pay attention. This is important business. You’ll have to go to Scotland. There ain’t no

other way.”

I am not concerned about my house or my shop and certainly not Johnny Lee, the black cat who lives with me. I’m not even worried about Al who has survived worse things. I’ve lived in Bear Hollow, Arkansas, all my life. The thought of leaving my neatly-ordered, comfortable life sends little jolts of lightning up and down my spine. What worries me is I can’t tell if those little jolts are excitement or fear.~

The second book in the series, Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen, will be released Winter 2018.

Sorchia Dubois Bio and Contact links

Award-winning author Sorchia Dubois lives in the piney forest of the Missouri Ozarks with seven cats, two fish, one dog, and one husband. She enjoys a wee splash of single-malt Scotch from time to time and she spends a number of hours each day tapping out paranormal romance, Gothic murder, and Scottish thrillers.

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A proud member of the Ross clan, Sorchia incorporates all things Celtic (especially Scottish) into her works. She can often be found at Scottish festivals watching kilted men toss large objects for no apparent reason.

Her stories blend legends, magic, mystery, romance, and adventure into enchanted Celtic knots. Halloween is her favorite time of year (she starts decorating in August and doesn’t take it down until February) and her characters tend to be mouthy, stubborn, and a bit foolhardy. Nothing makes her happier than long conversations in the evening, trips to interesting places, and writing until the wee hours of the morning. Well, chocolate cake makes her pretty happy, too.

Blog/Website: www.SorchiaDubois.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SorchiaDubois

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/SorchiaDubois/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SorchiaD

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/SorchiaDuBois/e/B00B60NOUQ/

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879978.Sorchia_DuBois

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SorchiaDuBois

Sorchia’s latest book, Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones, is the first in a Gothic romance trilogy.

• Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/ZGandFSBN

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Zoraida-Grey-Family-Stones-ebook/dp/B01LDLSCA4/

• KOBO: http://bit.ly/ZGandFSKOBO

• Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/ZGandFSWR

Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: author companiion, cat rescue, Furbaby Friday, Gothic romance, magical fiction, Sorchia Dubios, writing cats, Zoraida Grey Series

Furbaby Friday with Author Amy Patrick!

I am very glad to welcome Amy Patrick to Furbaby Friday to share her love of animals and her recent release, Young Adult fantasy romance, Hidden Deep, the first book in her Hidden Series.

Amy: When I was growing up my family had a variety of pets—several lovable dogs, a cat or two, a skunk (yes, I said skunk—what was my mother thinking?) and even a squirrel we raised and named Scooter. So when I had my own kids, I knew furbabies would have to be part of the mix. Since my two sons were born we’ve had two wonderful fur-covered boys in our lives as well. The first, Duke, was the sweetest, most lovable (and surprisingly quiet) Beagle. He taught my young sons great lessons about unconditional love and caring for a soul who depends on your for their survival as well as their emotional well-being.

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Sadly, we lost Duke about a year ago. I wasn’t sure I was ready to jump back in after the loss. But after much begging and promising of “doing all the work ourselves” this time, I relented to my children’s begging, and we brought home Dudley. He’s what’s known as a Schweenie—a blend of Shi Tzu and Dachshund (weenie dogs- get it?) He’s got the long, short, sturdy body of a Dachshund but the fluffy non-shedding fur of a Shi Tzu. People often say he looks like a tiny Wookie or living teddy bear, and we agree.

[image error]Very quickly we all fell madly in love with Dudley, and he’s become Mommy’s little writing partner. While decidedly *not* quiet, Dudley is the proverbial lapdog and is an expert cuddler. He’s never far from at least one of us. No one is allowed to kiss or hug in our house without his eager participation, and he’ll bark jealously if inadvertently left out of any affectionate display. He’s brought so much joy into our lives. We laugh about some antic of his literally every day, and while “The Dudster,” as they sometimes call him, loves to get rough and rowdy with my now-teenaged boys, he’s very content keeping me company as I spend my days writing while they’re at school.

Beth: Oh my! He’s adorable, and your beagle boy, Duke, was so sweet.

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The final book in my YA urban fantasy/paranormal romance series The Hidden Saga has just been released. I’d like to share a little about the *first* book in the series, HIDDEN DEEP.

BLURB:

He isn’t supposed to even talk to a human, much less fall in love with one…

Sixteen-year-old Ryann Carroll has just run into the guy who saved her life ten years ago. You might think she’d be happy to see him again. Not exactly. She’s a bit underdressed (as in skinny-dipping) and he’s not supposed to exist.

After her father’s affair, all Ryann wants is to escape the family implosion fallout and find a little peace. She also wouldn’t mind a first date that didn’t suck, but she’s determined not to end up like her mom: vulnerable, betrayed, destroyed. Ryann’s just moved into her grandma’s house in rural Mississippi, the same place where ten years earlier she became lost in the woods overnight and nearly died.

She’s still irresistibly drawn to those woods. There she encounters the boy who kept her from freezing to death that long ago winter night and was nowhere to be seen when rescuers arrived. He’s still mysterious, but now all grown-up and gorgeous, too. And the more she’s with him, the greater the threat he poses to Ryann’s strict policy– never want someone more than he wants you.

Seventeen-year-old Lad knows the law of his people all too well: Don’t get careless and Don’t get caught.

It’s allowed his race to live undetected in this world for thousands of years, mentioned only in flawed and fading folklore. Lad’s never been able to forget about Ryann since that night ten years ago. When he sees her again, his fascination re-ignites and becomes a growing desire that tempts him to break all the rules. He’s not even supposed to talk to a human, much less fall in love with one.

And the timing is atrocious. The Assemblage is coming, the rift between the Light and Dark is widening. Lad may have to trade his own chance at happiness to keep the humans, especially Ryann, blissfully ignorant and safe.

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Hidden Deep is available in print and audiobook as well as ebook. You can download the ebook free and enter the Hidden world to see if it’s a place you’d like to spend more time! Here are the links:

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON: http://bit.ly/HIDDENDEEP

IBOOKS: http://bit.ly/HIDDENDEEPiBooks

BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/HIDDENDEEPnook

KOBO: http://bit.ly/HIDDENDEEPKobo

GOOGLE PLAY: http://bit.ly/HIDDENDEEPplay

Audible: http://bit.ly/HiddenDeepAudible

[image error]BIO: Amy Patrick writes “unique” and “engrossing” (Examiner. com) romance and young adult fantasy/paranormal books that make you want to “read straight through the night into the breaking hours of dawn.” (Bitten By Books) Her current paranormal/fantasy release HIDDEN HERO is the ninth book in the hugely popular Hidden Saga. The free series starter HIDDEN DEEP, an Amazon bestseller, has won and finaled in numerous writing contests, including the prestigious RWA Golden Heart, and is newly available in audiobook!

Amy is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) and the author of The Hidden Saga as well as the award-winning Channel 20 Something series. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She’s been a professional singer, voiceover artist, and TV news anchor, and currently writes fiction full time as well as narrating audiobooks.

CONNECT WITH AMY:

website- http://www.amypatrickbooks.com/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/AmyPatrickAuthor

Twitter- https://twitter.com/AmyPatrickBooks

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Patrick/e/B00MAXNU8O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/AmyBookbub

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

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

Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: #YAFantasy, Amy Patrick, Author writing companion, beagle, dog lovers, Hidden Deep, Schweenie, YA paranormal, YA Romance Series, Young adult

Wee Darby Visits the North Pole

Charming childrens books.

pattykoontz

As a child, I dreamed of fairies, dragons, castles and the wee people. I inherited my love for fantasy and magic from my beloved Irish Mum. I cherished the many stories of her home and heritage in Northern Ireland. In later years I dreamt of winged horses gliding over towering fairy trees;

and mystical Selkies and mermaids surrounded by playful dolphins and singing whales, leading to the sea . . .and floating icebergs concealing magical creatures meticulously sculptured into breathtaking crystal figurines mounted on sparkling glass prisms.

In later years, the magic of watching fairies dancing in the wildflowers and finding enchanted openings in towering oak trees disappeared.

The harsh reality of responsibilities and adulthood soon took their place. The seed of fantasy and magic my Mum planted deep within my heart, refused to fade away.  I continued my writing, began creating and teaching ceramics, porcelain, clay, spinning fibers, and designing stained glass, to keep the magic and enchantment alive. Like a dream come true,  I finally got…

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Furbaby Friday With Author Katie O’Sullivan

I am pleased to have Katie O’Sullivan here to share her wonderful Saint Bernard and Contemporary Romance My Kind of Crazy, her first Wild Rose Press release.

Katie: Must Love Dogs… Big Dogs…

Beth: I’m laughing Katie because I have a big, medium, and small dog

#Audiobook—#YA #Fantasy #Shifter #Romance The Hunter’s Moon!

The Hunter’s Moon (Book 1, The Secret Warrior Series) is now in Audio at Amazon. I’m excited to share this fun news, so for those of you who would rather listen than read, pop into the above link.

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Story Blurb:

Seventeen year old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she’s hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home.

And that’s just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets.~

[image error]“This is a series with a whole bunch of potential and I can’t wait to read more. Definitely recommended for all fans of YA/Paranormal.” ~Merissa for YA Insider

“If you like Native American stories, shape shifters, curses, living in the mountains and woods, a little violence, semi immortality, action and adventure then this might be for you!” ~Kelly with Kindle and Me

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In Audio at Amazon.

Filed under: YA fantasy romance series Tagged: audiobook, Author Beth Trissel, The Hunter's Moon, Wolf Shifter Series, YA fantasy romance, YA paranormal, YA Shifter Series

Furbaby Friday With Mary Morgan

I’m glad to welcome the talented Mary Morgan here to share her dearly loved little dog and new Medieval Holiday Romance, A HIGHLAND MOON ENCHANTMENT.

Mary: Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “The New World,” is a haunting, beautiful piece of music and one that brings me to tears whenever I listen to the melody. I love that it speaks to me of hope—a new world, especially when it was the last music I heard as I carried my beloved wee dachshund out the door of our apartment to the vets that day eleven years ago. Even as I sit here and type this post, my eyes are misted with unshed tears. She was diagnosed six months earlier with massive bone spurs in her spine and other issues that plagued her. The evenings were difficult, and she would whimper in constant pain. Pain meds did not help and surgery was not an option. When her legs began to give out, we knew it was time to send her to the Rainbow Bridge. It will always remain the most difficult decision that my husband and I made. But let me start at the beginning of her incredible life…

Liezzel (named after the girl, Liesl in the Sound of Music) entered our family at six weeks old. A name was chosen, and the children demanded to spell it their own way. In truth, she had many nicknames over the almost fifteen years of her life—from weasel, brat, nanny, nurse, escape artist, and my favorite, Brunhilda. She was a joy and light to everyone she met. A huge flirt with men, and sassy with women.

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Whenever a new garden was planted in the spring, Liezzel had to supervise the planting. She never dug up the vegetables, flowers, or herbs, and not once did she use it as her toilet. She was inquisitive, often times watching me plant and then giving her final approval with an inspection.

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Playtime was always an hour before meals. She’d bounce her ball all over the house for a solid hour. It would drive us crazy. Once, I took away her ball, but she would find something else and dash all around the kitchen. I realized it was a futile attempt to silence her. Even toward the end of her life, her love of playing never stopped.

We’ve had many animals in our family, but this doxie will always remain a treasured family member. Though I have never included a dachshund in my stories (perhaps one day), I honor my love of all animals in every book I write. They add an extra element to the story—one I treasure, and I hope you do, too.

Beth: This was deeply touching, Mary. 

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A HIGHLAND MOON ENCHANTMENT by Mary Morgan

Release date: November 17, 2017

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Genre: Historical, Medieval, Scottish, Paranormal, Romance, Holiday

Length: Novella

**A tale from the Order of the Dragon Knights

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Blurb:

You first meet this warrior in Dragon Knight’s Axe, Order of the Dragon Knights, Book 3

Irish warrior, Desmond O’Quinlan has never surrendered his heart to any woman. He has no wish to have his soul tortured by love. Yet, the moment he locks gazes with Ailsa, his fate is destined for an adventure he never fathomed. He may have battled alongside a Dragon Knight, but his greatest challenge will come from within his own heart.

Ailsa MacDuff, a warrior among her clan, has no desire to have a man chain her to a life of obedience. However, that is before she meets Desmond. The temptation to allow this warrior inside her heart is a risk she dares to take, but one that could lead to a future of emptiness and sorrow.

When betrayal looms from within, the battleground of love is no match for these two warriors. Can the power of a Highland full moon be strong enough to unite or destroy them?

Buy Links:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0767QVJBX/

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-highland-moon-enchantment-mary-morgan/1127176325

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-highland-moon-enchantment/id1294140045?mt=11

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-highland-moon-enchantment

Author Bio:

Award-winning Scottish paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan, resides in Northern California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling–writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Social Media Links:

WEBSITE: http://www.marymorganauthor.com

BLOG: http://www.marymorganauthor.com/blog

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/

PINTEREST: www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morgan

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave Mary a comment.

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Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: author companion, dachshund, holiday, Mary Morgan, medieval, romance, Scottish

So Much More to Mistletoe #Herbal Lore

Steeped in lore from pre-Christian times, mistletoe is a revered plant with many attributes. Viscum album, the genus that grows in Great Britain and much of Europe, has smooth-edged oval evergreen leaves borne in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy white berries, thought to be poisonous, in dense clusters of 2 to 6.

[image error]Mistletoe is rare in Scotland, but references to it arise in Scottish herbals, so perhaps it was brought in from other regions of Britain. A similar species of mistletoe grows in North America with shorter, broader leaves and longer clusters of 10 or more berries. An evergreen parasitic plant, mistletoe grows on the branches of trees and derives all its nourishment from its host. The sticky berries, transferred by birds, attach themselves to the bark and send out roots. Because the plant prefers softer bark, it’s found more commonly on apple trees and is rarer on oaks which made mistletoe discovered on oaks greatly venerated by ancient Celts, Germans, and it was used in ceremonies by early Europeans. Greeks and other early peoples thought it had mystical powers and the plant gained a wealth of folklore over the centuries. Sacred to the Druids, many wondrous attributes are accorded to mistletoe, including medicinal powers, properties to boost fertility, and ward off evil spells.

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From A Modern Herbal: Mistletoe was held in great reverence by the Druids. They went forth clad in white robes to search for the sacred plant, and when it was discovered, one of the Druids ascended the tree and gathered it with great ceremony, separating it from the Oak with a golden knife. The Mistletoe was always cut at a particular age of the moon, at the beginning of the year, and it was only sought for when the Druids declared they had visions directing them to seek it. When a great length of time elapsed without this happening, or if the Mistletoe chanced to fall to the ground, it was considered as an omen that some misfortune would befall the nation. The Druids held that the Mistletoe protected its possessor from all evil, and that the oaks on which it was seen growing were to be respected because of the wonderful cures which the priests were able to effect with it. They sent round their attendant youth with branches of the Mistletoe to announce the entrance of the new year. It is probable that the custom of including it in the decoration of our homes at Christmas, giving it a special place of honour, is a survival of this old custom.

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The curious basket of garland with which ‘Jack-in-the-Green‘ is even now occasionally invested on May-day is said to be a relic of a similar garb assumed by the Druids for the ceremony of the Mistletoe. When they had found it they danced round the oak to the tune of ‘Hey derry down, down, down derry!’ which literally signified, ‘In a circle move we round the oak. ‘ Some oakwoods in Herefordshire are still called ‘the derry‘; and the following line from Ovid refers to the Druids’ songs beneath the oak: ‘Ad viscum Druidce cantare solebant’

Shakespeare calls it ‘the baleful Mistletoe,’ an allusion to the Scandinavian legend that Balder, the god of Peace, was slain with an arrow made of Mistletoe. He was restored to life at the request of the other gods and goddesses, and Mistletoe was afterwards given into the keeping of the goddess of Love, and it was ordained that everyone who passed under it should receive a kiss, to show that the branch had become an emblem of love, and not of hate.”

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Medicinal Uses:  The leaves and young twigs, collected just before the berries form, and dried in the same manner as described for Holly.

The preparations ordinarily used are a fluid extract and the powdered leaves. A homoeopathic tincture is prepared with spirit from equal quantities of the leaves and ripe berries, but is difficult of manufacture, owing to the viscidity of the sap.”

“Medicinal Action and Uses: Nervine, antispasmodic, tonic and narcotic. Has a great reputation for curing the ‘falling sickness’ epilepsy – and other convulsive nervous disorders. It has also been employed in checking internal haemorrhage.

***Bear in mind that although mistletoe has some possible medicinal qualities and has been used for centuries for various maladies, it is potentially toxic so do not administer it to yourself.

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From http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/302/

“Mistletoe was thought to be a remarkable and sacred shrub because it seemed to grow from the air and not from the earth. Mistletoe has been considered undesirable because it feeds off other trees; however it is also thought to have a symbiotic relationship because it provides nutrients when the host is in dormancy. It also provides food for a host of animals and birds who consume its leaves and shoots.

Over time its folklore has grown to include the belief that the oak mistletoe could extinguish fire, that it held the soul of the host tree and placed in a baby’s cradle would protect the child from faeries.

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Kissing under the mistletoe is also cited in an early work by Washington Irving, “Christmas Eve,” which tells of the festivities surrounding the Twelve Days of Christmas: “Here were kept up the old games of hoodman blind, shoe the wild mare, hot cockles, steal the white loaf, bob apple, and snap dragon; the Yule-clog and Christmas candle were regularly burnt, and the mistletoe with its white berries hung up, to the imminent peril of all the pretty housemaids.”

Used as good luck charms to ward off evil, its sprigs were also put under the pillows of young girls who thought it would entice dreams of the husband to be.”

From http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays/mistletoe3.htm

“Mistletoe is also said to be a sexual symbol, because of the consistency and color of the berry juice as well as the belief that it is an aphrodisiac, the “soul” of the oak from which it grows. The origin of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is vague. However, the tradition may have stemmed from either the Viking association of the plant with Frigga (the goddess of love) or from the ancient belief that mistletoe was related to fertility. Another explanation for the tradition is that it is derived from the festival of Saturnalia, a popular mid-December celebration in ancient Rome.

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The correct mistletoe etiquette is for the man to remove one berry when he kisses a woman. When all the berries are gone, there’s no more kissing permitted underneath that plant.

One legend states that a couple who kisses underneath mistletoe will have good luck, but a couple neglecting to perform the ritual will have bad luck. Specifically, it is believed that a couple kissing under the mistletoe ensure themselves of marriage and a long, happy life, while an unmarried woman not kissed under the mistletoe will remain single for another year.”

***Mistletoe and werewolves: In some ancient lore, mistletoe is considered a repellent and protection from werewolves.

***Royalty free images of mistletoe, Druid, British Oak, couple kissing beneath mistletoe, herbal dispensary, Christmas tree

Filed under: herbal lore Tagged: Ancient, Celts, Christmas, Druid, Great Britain, herbal lore, kissing under mistletoe, Mistletoe, Scotland

My Three Christmas Romances

Somewhere the Bells Ring (Somewhere in Time):

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Ghosts aren’t real, are they?

December 1968: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative’s ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn’t so bad.

To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope–until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe–in Bailey and the ghost–before the Christmas bells ring?~

“An intriguing, gripping ghost story with a focus on romance rather than terror.” ~Reviewed by Stephanie E with Fallen Angel

In Audio and Kindle at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Bells-Ring-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B006530S2Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Somewhere The Bells Ring is 40% off at The Wild Rose Press through Cyber Monday: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/2806-somewhere-the-bells-ring.html?search_query=beth+trissel&results=21

The White Lady (Ladies in Time)

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Avery Dunham has always been ready to follow her friend, time-traveling wizard, Ignus Burke, on incredible adventures. This time, though, she has serious misgivings. It’s just one week before Christmas, but she cannot get him to change his mind. The usually cool and collected magic-wielding leader is wholly obsessed by the portrait of the White Lady whom he is bent on rescuing.

Almost as soon as they begin their journey, it becomes clear their mission is a trap.

Avery was right: this adventure is not going to be like any other.

The White Lady is the perfect book to curl up with under a mound of blankets on a snowy afternoon. Enjoy! ~Colleen M. Chesebro https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/11/11/colleens-book-reviews-the-white-lady-by-author-beth-trissel/

New Release–In Kindle at Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/White- Lady-Ladies-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B075XBTY1J/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The White Lady is 40% off at The Wild Rose Press through Cyber Monday: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5346-the-white-lady.html

A Warrior For Christmas (Colonial American Christmas)

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Colonial American Christmas Romance

December 1764, the Philadelphia Countryside: Reclaimed by his wealthy uncle, former Shawnee captive Corwin Whitfield finds life with his adopted people at an end and reluctantly enters the social world of 1764. He plans to return to the colonial frontier at his first opportunity–until he meets Uncle Randolph’s ward, Dimity Scott.

Deaf since a childhood bout of Scarlet fever, Dimity Scott intends to be cherished for herself, not her guardian’s purse, even if it means risking spinsterhood. Then the rugged newcomer arrives, unlike any man she’s ever known. Dimity has learned to manage her silent world, but unaccustomed to the dangers of the frontier, can she expect love and marriage from Corwin, who longs to return to his Shawnee life?

“A Warrior for Christmas took me by complete surprise. I expected the usual tale of a former Indian captive transcending his past to live the life of a gentleman, but Beth Trissel’s exquisite writing skill made me love this story…No reader of historical romance will want to miss A Warrior for Christmas, even if it isn’t Christmas.” ~Two Lips Reviews (Five Lips and A Recommended Read Rating)

In Kindle and Audio at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Christmas-Beth-Trissel-ebook/dp/B00AIABP7E/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

A Warrior for Christmas is 40% off at The Wild Rose Press through Cyber Monday: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/2912-a-warrior-for-christmas.html?search_query=beth+trissel&results=21

***These three Christmas Romances are novella length, published by The Wild Rose Press, and available at all major online eBook sellers.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: colonial Christmas romance, fantasy romance, ghostly Christmas romance, MYSTERY ROMANCE, Old Colonial home, Old Victorian home, paranormal romance, Time travel romance

#Timetravel #HolidayRomance The White Lady on Blog Tour

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My new release, fantasy time travel Christmas romance The White Lady is featured at different blogs for the next few weeks. Enter the rafflecopter for a chance at the 20$ Amazon gift card. I’m a few days behind in sharing the stops The blog tour began at the excellent site:  Romance Novel Giveaways

For today’s stop and a list of blogs taking part in the tour visit: http://bookschatter.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/tour-white-lady.html

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Christmas romance, fantasy romance, ghostly romance, holiday romance, magical adventure, The White Lady, Time travel romance

Furbaby Friday with Author Barbara Edwards!

I’m very glad to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press Author Barbara Edwards to the blog to share her beloved dog, Dixie, and the holiday romance she was inspired to write entitled Dixie’s Gift.

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Barbara:  “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” ― Will Rogers

Dixie’s Gift, my Christmas novella, is based on memories of my Dixie who spent her days keeping me from becoming a hermit. She’d demand a walk. Taking me out of my house to enjoy the fresh air and get some exercise. She’d sleep on my feet, keeping them warm while I wrote.

We got Dixie from a retired teacher who fostered dogs waiting for a forever home. It was a serendipitous happening. My husband wanted a German Shepherd, but every time I got bitten it was by a shepherd so I said no. I was watching the Westminster Dog show and a beautiful dog called a Belgian Malinois was competing for best of show. They described the breed as being family oriented, energetic, and needing an owner who spent time with them. Since the breed looked similar to what my husband wanted, I checked with several breeders who said their females weren’t bred every season.

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My husband and I were having coffee and I was flipping through the Penny Saver when I spotted the ad for adopting her. I called despite the fact we weren’t going to be home the following weekend. It was love at first sight. This beautiful dog had been discarded after a bitter divorce. She’d been kept in a dog cage all day every day. When we got home we didn’t know if she was housebroken and put her in a dog cage. I never heard such a horrible scream from a dog. She vomited and pooped and I let her out promising not to do it again.

We decided to take a chance and took her inside. She was housebroken, but wouldn’t answer to the name they provided. My son came over and started calling her by dog names until he laughingly called Dixie, a reference to our Civil War reenacting. She perked up and went to him so Dixie it was. Dixie loved re-enacting and went with us to events, she loved riding in the car, sleeping in the tent and watching the horses. Dixie went with us to Yellowstone.

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I didn’t really think about my companion passing away and when she was diagnosed with cancer, it broke my heart. She was in terrible pain, but I didn’t want to let her go. It took me a week but I finally made the wrenching decision to send her over the rainbow bridge.

This story features the ghost of a dog who doesn’t want to leave her mistress alone and writing it helped me through those first lonely months. I still miss her. Dixie is buried in my flower garden next to our house.~

Beth: This is deeply touching, Barbara.

Blurb for Dixie’s Gift: Ellen Carter deeply grieves for her husband Dan, but at least she still has Dixie, her beloved Malinois. However, soon Dixie leaves her too. But the faithful dog cannot rest easy in heaven while her mistress is unhappy. Dixie pleads with the Archangel Michael to let her send help, and intercedes for Ellen in the only way she can. But will Ellen get the message, and more importantly, will she accept Dixie’s gift?

Sexy newcomer Michael Burke can barely take enough time from his successful restaurant for a decent night’s sleep, let alone romance. Still, he is intrigued by the beautiful widow and can’t resist entering her shop. Sparks fly, and when Ellen has an accident in a snowstorm, he comes to her rescue. Trapped by a blizzard and aided by Dixie’s Gift, Ellen and Michael find more than shelter–they find love.

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Cover artist: Debbie Taylor

Story Excerpt:

He brushed a wisp of her hair from her cheek. It clung like spider silk to his fingers.

He rubbed the strand and his heart raced. When her lips parted, he bent forward to taste their soft curve.

Sweet, so sweet, he thought as her mouth melded with his. His hands slowly slid from her slender shoulders to her waist. Soft as a feather, she sighed. Her curves fit against his hard chest like matching puzzle pieces.

The lights blinked, dimmed, and then flared back on.~

 Reader Comments:

Dixie’s Gift tugs at your heart, and though the snow threatens, you can’t help but be warmed by this sweet story. A must read! — Kara O’Neal, Author

“Dog lovers, do not read this book . . . without a box of tissues nearby. A touching story of love and compassion.” – Diane Burton, author of the Outer Rim series.

“Delightful…Barbara Edwards weaves a heartwarming holiday tale of rediscovering love after the death of a spouse and the loss of a beloved pet. It’s a refreshing story with a theme of joy and peace and filled with engaging characters. And who can resist a romantic winter setting with lots and lots of snow?” ~ Judy Ann Davis, Author and Educator

Dixie’s Gift by Barbara Edwards is a gift of a read. Sweet, romantic, poignant, and touching, it will bring a lump to your throat and satisfaction to your heart. If you don’t shed a tear, you’re a robot.” ~ Award winning author Alicia Dean

***Purchase Dixie’s Gift from The Wild Rose Press::  https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3671-dixie-s-gift.html?search_query=Dixie%27s+Gift&results=1

In Kindle at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dixies-Gift-Barbara-Edwards-ebook/dp/B017OJGVIY/

From Barbara: Please follow, friend, or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

Blog   http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website  http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter   https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’ s Page   http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave Barbara a comment!

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Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: author companion, Belgian Malinois, Christmas, Dixie's Gift, dog rescue, holiday, romance, sweet