Beth Trissel's Blog, page 16

Furbaby Friday with Author Linda Nightingale

I’m very happy to have my good friend and fellow Wild Rose Press author, Linda Nightingale, here to share her new best friend, Courage, and dark fantasy romance, Gylded Wings.

[image error]Courage– a Coton de Tulear

Linda: My Trip to Alabama to Get Courage

Is Alabama the only state in the union that has courage, you ask? Well, Courage started out in Tennessee and moved to Alabama.

Courage (Registered name: My Darling Dog’s Courage) is my 4-year-old Coton de Tulear and when people ask what a Coton is, I say, ‘a little white dog’.  He is the best possible canine friend I could have found.  He is very conscientious when it comes to potty breaks and in the two-and-a-half months I’ve had him hasn’t gone in the house once.  This was a very important requirement for me. He’s also loving, sweet, playful and fairly obedient though he is a consummate beggar.

Our story starts in about February. I was looking for a Coton to adopt (they are quite expensive to buy), but every one I found got away before I found and responded to the ad. Casting my net wider and wider, I finally found Courage in Mobile (about a 7-8 hour drive from Houston).  I made plans to meet the woman halfway, but then a cautious friend convinced me that I was at risk, that it was probably a scam.  Long story short, I cancelled and continued my search. To no avail.

Over the course of the next few months, I kept in sporadic contact with the woman who owned Courage, always surprised that he hadn’t been snapped up.  In May, I had plans to visit my son in Yorkshire for a month, so I asked Amber to keep him until I returned. She agreed to keep him for me and didn’t ask for any compensation though I volunteered.

While I was in England, I received a frantic message that she needed to get rid of him and that someone had offered her about half again what I’d agreed for a rehoming fee.  There was very little I could do from 3,000 miles away, and I told her to take the other person’s offer.  I knew that I’d resume my search when I got home but all along I’d just had a ‘feeling’ that Courage was the dog for me.

A few days before I was due to return, she again emailed me and said she still had him.  I agreed to pick him up on the first weekend in June, which meant that I scarcely had time to unpack before I threw a few things in a case and zoomed off to Mobile.  I was very lucky that a friend had agreed to go with me because it rained incessantly and I don’t see terribly well under those conditions.

We stopped by a casino in Louisiana on our way, stayed overnight and the next morning Amber brought Courage. He was just the cutest thing I’d ever seen with his tail flung over his back and his soft eyes ‘smiling’.  I loved him at once.

At about 11 AM, we loaded up with Courage in my lap and Kelly driving and aimed the Miata’s nose toward Houston. Except for having to sit for almost an hour to wait while traffic was cleared in an accident on I-10, we made semi-good time and arrived home around 7.

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Courage settled in quickly and now owns the house. My neighbors love him, but he does have one serious fault.  He can be very aggressive when meeting new people.  He did bite one of my neighbors (she doesn’t love him I dare say).  We need to enroll in some quality dog training for this personality faux pas.

A Coton de Tulear is the Royal Dog of Madagascar and once upon a time could only be owned by the nobility.  The breed’s name derives from the fact that their coat is soft as cotton and silky.  For show dogs, the coat is worn long.  I’m letting Courage’s coat grow but I doubt I’ll ever show him.  I spent enough time in show rings with my Andalusian horses years ago.

“Courage is a love affair with the unknown.” Osho, and so it was for me and my little white dog, but I always felt that this one was just right.

Beth: Wonderful dog, Linda.

My latest book will be released by The Wild Rose Press on 9/13, but is available now for preorder. http://a.co/aELockF

The blurb for my dark fantasy about the many faces of love Glyded Wings:

Angels in slavery? Brit Montgomery cannot believe it, until she is sent on a rescue mission to another dimension and witnesses the cruel practice first hand. The angel, Gyldan, is the most beautiful being she’s ever seen. She is drawn to him but sometimes beauty disguises wicked secrets. This man who rocks her world seems more demon than angel.

Gyldan, born into slavery, has one desire—fly free. When he escapes to Earth, he faces an alternate self-realization full of dark glory…and disbelief. Gyldan is bent on experiencing his newfound powers unmindful of the harm to Brit or others.

Confused and hurt by Gyldan’s erratic evil actions, Brit turns away. While Gyldan’s journey of self-discovery pulls him further distant, Brit finds acceptance in a solitary, comfortable life of her own until she realizes the day of reckoning has come. Will Gyldan be her final ruin or has he come back to her with a gift more precious than life itself?

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Excerpt:

The lady flipped her hood back, and I stopped breathing.  In her olive wool cape, she looked like a wood nymph, at once young and innocent but wise.  Dark hair curled around an oval face.  Without a trace of fear, big, beautiful eyes held my gaze.  She didn’t belong to this dim, cruel world, and I ached merely to touch her.

Her lips parted on a soft exhalation. “You’re an ang—Malak.”

If only I could return her smile, but Ragnor would slice me in half.   I was forbidden to glance at her, but couldn’t take my eyes off a vision so perfect I might have conjured her, even to the scent of the forest and rain.  A memory of Miriam assaulted me, but I was helpless to control my feelings.  Never had a woman affected me as this one did.  I felt awkward, terribly aware of my worn clothes and the wings arched behind me, yet giddy and aroused.

My eyes offered the smile my lips were forbidden.  “Yes, My Lady.”

She tilted her head to look up at me.  Her gaze drifted over my wings, my face, flicked lower.  “In the North, we have heard of the Malak singers.  What’s your name?”

I was too shocked to answer.  Like an addle-pated fool, I gaped at her, and she laughed.

“Stand aside, Gyldan.”  The giant slammed his paw against my shoulder, throwing the weight of my wings to the left, and I lost my balance.

The lady’s hand shot out to steady me.  Ragnor wedged his body between us.  I stumbled into the wall.  As I righted myself, I glimpsed an angry expression on Lady Hamlin’s face.

She stepped past Ragnor and touched my arm.  “Are you all right?”

Excitement trembled over my entire body.  “Yes, My Lady.”

“You’ll see the freaks perform tonight.”  Ragnor shot me a dark frown, gesturing for her to follow.  “Come, Lady Hamlin, I’ll guide you to your chambers.”

“Gyldan.”  The sprite grinned as she smoothed a dark curl back from her face.  “Do you know the way?”

“No, My Lady.”  I was forced to lie to save my hide.  “I have never been in this part of the castle before.”

“Off with you then.”  A graceful hand shooed me along.  “Be about your business, and I shall go about mine.”

She had brushed me off like an insect on her sleeve.   What had I expected?  That she would feel the same overwhelming attraction I felt?~

Beth: Wonderful excerpt!

Purchase Gylded Wings in Kindle at: https://www.amazon.com/Gylded-Wings-Golden-Linda-Nightingale-ebook/dp/B074DPYCBY

Linda’s Links:

Out of the Ordinary..Into Extraordinary Realms

http://www.lindanightingale.com

http://www.lindanightingale.wordpress.com

Follow Linda ‘s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Nightingale/e/B005OSOJ0U

Thanks for stopping by!

[image error]A Coton de Tulear after grooming

Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: author companion, Coton de Tulear, dark fantasy romance, dog adoption, Gylded Wings, Linda Nightingale, new romance release, The Wild Rose Press

From Paranormal Time Travel Romance Novel Somewhere My Lady (Book 1, Ladies in Time)

Is he real, or is he a ghost?

Excerpt from Chapter One:

Uncertain if she were dreaming or haunted, she gaped at the animated figures. Wait. There. Him.

Her attention riveted on one young man in the gathering. He’d spun by earlier. She’d swear he gazed over his shoulder in her direction, then promenaded up the hall. His expert steps returned him again to the entryway. Unlike the other dancers, he was fully corporeal. No partially seen legs or torso. Fitted blue breeches and silk stockings encased his long muscular legs. He wore his own chestnut brown hair pulled back in a queue at his neck, free of powder, while most male heads were wigged and white. The deep blue suit tailored to his tall figure complemented his deft steps in the English country dance.

Something about him held her spellbound…the tilt of his head, arch of his brow, glimpse of his profile… She followed his every move with the fixity of an owl.

He turned blue-gray eyes toward her and sensuous lips curved into a smile on his handsome face. 

Hands down. No contest. He was the hottest guy ever. Her heart beat a thrilling new rhythm.

He circled closer to where she stood rooted in the foyer, not moving a toe, scarcely drawing breath. 

Did he truly see her backed tremulously against the wall, or did it only feel that way?

Unlike the others in the ghostly assembly, his eyes didn’t skirt past her. He paused in the dance. Bending at the shoulders, he tipped his hand to her in a genteel flourish.

He’d freakin’ bowed. Her jaw dropped. He most definitely saw her. And she sure as heck saw him. A sparking sizzle jumped between them, awakening her as she’d never been roused before. Even more than when the house charged through her at her arrival. It was as if she were plugged in—to him.

How that could be, she had no idea, but when he gazed into her eyes, time seemed to stop. She spiraled into moonless stars, and back again to this dizzying realm. To him. Even if she were dreaming, she’d never forget this moment.

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“Dance with me.” He beckoned to her.

“I don’t know how.” She forced the panted reply past the tightness in her throat.

He shook his head. “Nae, lady. You are grace itself.”

Gallant of him to say. “Clearly, you’ve never seen me play tennis.”

Humor flickered in his eyes and touched his mouth. “I should like to.” A look of urgency displaced the fleeting mirth. “Wait. Stay a moment,” he entreated.

Was she fading into dreamland, or was he?

Freeing himself from the others, he dashed to her and slipped something into her hand. “Keep this.” His voice a whisper in her ear. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

She eyed him incredulously. “But how—”

“Did I know you would be here?” he finished for her, melting tenderness in his gaze. “Because we have been here before.” He gestured at the doorway. “Danced through the foyer and into the garden.”

“What? When?”

He answered by cupping his hands to her face and pressing his warm lips to hers in a brief, but impassioned kiss. Any remaining breath she had was forfeited to him.

“Until we meet again, sweet lady.” He swept her a bow and was gone, and the others with him, like the mist vanishing in the sun streaming through the windows.

She stared after him, or the place he’d been, with her lips slightly parted. There were no words, only her wildly beating heart.

She shook her head to clear it, almost expecting the party—and him—to reappear. No. She was alone in the foyer. It was a dream. He was, too. Had to be. The most vivid, never-to-be-forgotten, dream ever. But she was awake, and when she glanced at her hand, she still held the scrap of paper.

Unfolding it, she mouthed, Wait for me, a simple request inked in penmanship that reflected the bold spirit of the young man who’d given it to her.

 Somewhere My Lady is available in kindle at:
 https://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Lady-Ladies-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B071VTNC7V

The novel is also available from all other online booksellers.

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” ~Henry Van Dyke

Filed under: tiime travel, Time travel romance, Uncategorized Tagged: excerpt from romance novel, ghostly, ghostly romance, Ladies in Time series, New Adult pararomance, New release, Paranormal, romance, time slip, time travel, Time travel romance

Furbaby Friday with Author Taylor Anne

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please share comments about your furbabies. Pictures too!

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

SMOKE AND MIRRORS  (Up in smoke series)

Book Blurb:

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

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

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

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

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

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About the Author

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

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

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

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

Visit her Website Taylor’s Tidbits:

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

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

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

Thanks for stopping by.

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Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: authors and cats, cat therapy, Contemporary romance, mystery, romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

Furbaby Comfort in Times of Grief

When the going gets tough.

[image error](Cooper licking my elbow as I type)

Furbabies don’t understand when someone dies. They carry on as usual, but sense something’s wrong. Maybe with cats, it’s because our purr is off, or our auras are. With dogs, it’s our demeanor. They know, without being told a thing. No explanation required. I need that kind of empathy. My younger brother, Chad, died suddenly this past weekend. He’s had immense challenges for years after a tragic skiing accident as a freshman in college left him with a severe head injury. There were close calls since then, accidental overdoses of his seizure med, and choking incidences. But we always got him back, a little worse for wear, but still with us. This time, we didn’t get him back. He’s with God now, freed from his earthly bonds, but my, oh my, how we miss him. Chad was one of the good ones. His challenges didn’t diminish his inner light. It burned brighter.[image error](Image of my sister, Catherine, Beth, brother John, and Chad in glasses)

Chad insisted on living his life as fully as he could after the accident and was an inspiration to many. His warmth and gentle spirit touched all who knew him, as did his love of nature. He spent his last hours (weeks, months) laying stone around the beautiful water garden at his and my parent’s home, a project that brought him much joy. Now, the water garden is his memorial. Chad’s Pond. Stones with inscriptions from friends and family will be laid beside this lovely site. I will help mom plant bulbs and perennials around it–a memorial garden. We found a plant order form he had already filled out, likely with this in mind.

I have admired that water garden often this week. Each time I return home from these bittersweet visits, I’m greeted by an exuberant puppy, ecstatic to see me. After circling the room/house/yard like he’s been shot out of guns,  Cooper calms down and sits not only with me, but on me. This is new. Normally, Kitty Cream sits by my head. Last evening, when I was very sad, he sat on my middle and snuggled close. He’s nearly three and has never done this before. Kitty Peaches hugs me. Jilly sits by my side. Kitty Pavel isn’t a Cooper fan, so he perches overhead on the couch. I am not alone. Furbabies see to that. Where I am, they are.

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‘We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.’~George Elliot

[image error](Peaches and Cream as kittens)

‘What greater gift than the love of a cat?’ ~Charles Dickens

Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: animal comfort, animal therapy, animals when grieving, dog rescue, kitten adoption, pet therapy

Furbaby Friday with Author K. J. Pierce

I am happy to welcome my good friend and fellow Wild Rose Press author, K. J. Pierce. She brings a wonderful blend of wit, wisdom, and a deep love of her animals friends and mentors. And her contemporary romantic comedy, Yours Truly, is hilarious and cleverly written.

(Mr. Dorian Gray)

K. J. Pierce. Growing up in an Army family, you’d think having pets would be a virtual impossibility, given the frequent moves. We averaged a move every two-three years, but aside from a five-year stretch in Germany when I was a pre-teen and teenager, I don’t remember a time when we didn’t have some sort of animal roaming the household (or for the four years we lived in the Louisiana country just outside of Ft. Polk, rabbits and chickens taking up yard space).

I’m a firm believer about many things animal-related, but looking back, I’m amazed at how much they teach us, even when we’re not paying close attention.

My first cat KC (stood for Kitty Cat…I was a brilliant child…Ha!) taught me that if you stay active and keep yourself in shape, you are, at least for a little while, invincible to things that hurt.

Case in point—we lived in the county, and KC was an indoor/outdoor cat. Whenever we’d take him to the vet, they had to try multiple times to administer his shots. KC was so solid from his roaming-tom ways, the needles would bend whenever they got anywhere near his meaty parts.

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He also taught me to not make assumptions. See, KC was a fluffy, pure white cat with the most brilliant blue eyes. Every single vet we took him to was shocked he wasn’t deaf – apparently pure white cats with blue eyes are 3-5 more times likely to be deaf than a pure white cat with non-blue eyes.

Sadly, the last thing he taught me was that mistaken identity could kill—he abruptly disappeared one day, and my family and I are fairly certain he was taken for a rabbit and shot for someone’s dinner.

Daisy the beagle, with her multiple litters taught me about birth, but it was Laddie, our Border Collie, who taught me the concept of karma.

Laddie liked to lounge by our roadside mailbox, when he wasn’t herding my brother and me. This, unfortunately, led to his being hit by a horse trailer towed behind a car. The drivers lied about where Laddie had been and how he came to be hit. After Laddie succumbed to his injuries a month or so later, the jerks’ house burnt down. I have vague memories of watching the smoke rise in the distance and thinking they got exactly what they deserved.

[image error](Laddie with K J Pierce and her brother)

It was Shamrock the cat who gave me comfort when I needed it, having been uprooted from Frankfurt, Germany to Fort Knox, Kentucky, as a sixteen-year-old. Bam-Bam, Shammie’s second-in-command, taught me how to grieve when she died of chylothorax. H.O. Templeton, the first of my two pet rats, taught me it was okay to freak everyone out. That was the funniest bit of all.

My English Heritage and Historical Romance Into the Lion’s Heart

The connection I feel to the past and those who’ve gone before me is the ongoing inspiration behind my historical romances, including the time travels in my ‘Somewhere in Time’ series, and more lately, my Ladies in Time series. I’ve done a lot of research into family genealogy and come from well-documented English/Scots-Irish folk with a smidgen of French in the meld, a Norman knight who sailed with William the Conqueror.  One family line goes back to Geoffrey Chaucer.  And there’s a puritan line with involvement in the Salem Witch Trials—my apologies to Susannah Martin’s descendants–but that’s another story.  With Into the Lion’s Heart, I more deeply explored my British ancestry.

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Set in 1789 England, the story opens with the hero, Captain Dalton Evans (fought in the American Revolution) journeying to Dover to meet the ship carrying a distant cousin, Mademoiselle Sophia Devereux, who’s fleeing the French Revolution.  *Pause here to note all the research the revolution took, not to mention Georgian England in general, Cornwall in particular, rum smuggling, stage-coach travel and sailing in the late 18th century….you get the idea. But I digress. Back to Dalton who’s irked with his mission, not only because he finds it tedious, but he resents the French, partly as a result of their aid to the Americans during the war and some of the Frenchmen he fought during that lost cause.  Plus he thinks French aristocrats are arrogant.  However, the young woman he rescues from the sinking ship is nothing like he expects and rocks his world.

During all the copious research, I discovered this is a fascinating time period on both sides of the channel.  I’m already hooked on The Scarlet Pimpernel, having read all the books in that series several times and watched every film version (have my favorites) and I’m drawn to other novels and productions set in this era, such as the rich epic series, Poldark–read the books and own the earlier Masterpiece Theater production. Loved the newest version.

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As to the language ‘thing,’ my youngest daughter, Elise, who graduated summa cum laude with a double major in art and French, was a huge help with the sprinkling of French words and phrases.

[image error]Blurb: As the French Revolution rages, the English nobility offer sanctuary to many a refugee. Captain Dalton Evans arrives in Dover to meet a distant cousin, expecting to see a spoiled aristocrat. Instead, he’s conquered by the simplicity of his new charge. And his best friend Thomas Archer isn’t immune to her artless charm, either.

Cecile Beaumont didn’t choose to travel across the Channel. And she certainly didn’t expect that impersonating her own mistress would introduce her to a most mesmerizing man. Now she must play out the masquerade, or risk life, freedom – and her heart.~

Into the Lion’s Heart is available at Amazon in kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Lions-Heart-Love-Letters-ebook/dp/B005I63Y3Q

From Barnes & Noble, and other online booksellers.

Awards and Reviews:

2012 Reader’s Favorite Finalist

[image error]“This is a brilliant historical romance by Beth Trissel. You can feel her passion in the story, very well written and characters that you can feel. Into the Lion’s Heart will take you through a journey of love,and enough surprises to keep you hanging on. If you love a beautiful historical romance you will enjoy this story!”

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviewer: Wanda from Romance Writers Reviews

“Into The Lions Heart is a historical romance novelette that is sure to delight the fancy of those who read this genre… If you have never read any of Beth Trissel’s books, this will be a great start and make you want to read more. I have always liked her style of writing and hope she does not change. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Lynn F. for Readers Favorite

[image error] I simply adored INTO THE LION’S HEART by Beth Trissel. I’m not an avid reader of historical romances or even the simply sweet romances, but this tale kissed a delicate smile on my face and I have to admit, my heart melted. Not only was the writing superb and in context with the time and place, but the plot itself was very well done.

Rating five out of five stars and a Top Pick from The Romance Reviews

Reviewed by Erinne 


Filed under: Historical Romance Tagged: award winning historical romance, Cornwall, Georgian England, Poldark, The French Revolution, The Scarlet Pimpernel

Furbaby Friday with Author Tena Stetler

I am glad to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press Author, Tena Stetler, to share her special friends and paranormal romance, A Warlock’s Secret. I’ve enjoyed getting to know, Tena. She’s smart and fun, and we share a deep love of animals.

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(Tena’s gorgeous Chow Chow, Mystic Reign)

Tena: Furred, feathered and scaled creatures enrich our world. Mystic Reign, named after one of the characters in my books, is our Chow Chow dog and was a spitfire as a pup.  Chows have a stubborn streak a mile wide, good thing my stubborn streak is wider than hers.  LOL  I’ll admit to a battle of wills on occasion, but we always come to a fair compromise. She turned five years old, August 6th. Over the years we’ve watched that out of control pup grow into a sweet, confident, and obedient canine companion we are proud to take anywhere.

We take walks together every morning and extra treks when I need inspiration and my muse is being difficult.  If it has rained or snowed, the world is entirely different under Mystic’s nose and she has to sniff everything along the way. During the day she is guardian of the front door, letting me know when someone ventures too close. Several times a day she comes into my office, after completing a circuit through the house to make sure everything is as it should be. Then she sits down at my feet waiting for an ear scratch, kind words and occasionally a treat for a job well done. Yep, I have a bowl full of treats on my desk.

[image error]Some days I am so involved in my writing that I lose track of time. Taco, our Eclectus parrot makes sure to let me know when it’s lunch time by her insistent calling out “Hey guys… Is it good?” Yes, Taco can tell time. She has a large vocabulary and uses it appropriately.  At four o’clock every day, her sweet voice can be heard all over the house as she  insists it’s time to shut down the computer, let her out to visit, and for us to enjoy a little time in the sunroom before starting supper.  Writing can be a lonely profession, but with my furred, feathered, and scaled companions (can’t leave out Sammie, our forty-five year old box turtle) my world is anything but lonely. Oh, and they all enjoy hearing my tales.

Beth: I loved hearing about Mystic Reign (wonderful name) and your parrot. What a hoot she is. Now, more about Tena’s latest release.

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[image error]A Warlock’s Secrets –  Loyalties will be tested, walls will be breached, and enemies will be fought. Years ago, a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven turned deadly. Son of the high priestess, Tristian Shandie’s life changed forever. With a price on his head and revenge in his heart, he has no choice but to follow in his father’s footsteps to a profession shrouded in secrets. Now his skills as an enforcer for the Demon Overlord are second to none. But dangerous secrets he harbors are a liability he can no longer afford.

A chance meeting with a woman he finds irresistible flips Tristian’s world upside down. Hannah is a cyber security specialist with secrets of her own. Bad boys never appealed to her until Tristian, who changes everything. In his darkest hours, she is dragged into his magical world.

If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?

Amazon, Kobo, Barnes& Noble, itunes. The Wild Rose Press

[image error]About the author:

Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination.  Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures telling her their stories. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Well, okay there are a few companion animals to round out her books.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon

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

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Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: author animal companions, Chow Chow, dark fantasy romance, Eclectus parrot, paranormal romance, Tena Stetler, The Wild Rose Press

Furbaby Friday with Author Charlotte O’Shay

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

(Stanley–Charlotte’s Darling  Cockapoo Rescue)

Charlotte: Thank you Beth for dreaming up FurBaby Friday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One of the many pet related scenes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Who would do this?”

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Story Blurb:

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

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

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

Preorder A Model Engagement in kindle:

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

Follow Charlotte O’ Shay  at Amazon:

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

Find Charlotte on:

Her Website: https://charlotteoshayauthor.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlotte_oshay

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

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

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

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Filed under: Furbaby Friday Tagged: author animal companions, Charlotte O'Shay, City of Dreams Series, Cockapoo rescue, Contemporary romance, dog breeds for city life, rescue dog, Romantic Suspense, spicy romance

Geese Have Quite A Lot to Say, Actually

Here are the geese having a clandestine meeting. They do that a lot, with secretive quacks and goosey murmurs which change to alarmed scrambles when I’m spotted. Bad me, spying on the Goose Alliance.

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But I feel compelled to stay abreast of their plots. Even more furtive, are these gatherings at dusk with the cows. I suspect they’re planning an uprising and trying to take over the farm.

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Again, all appears innocent in this early morning shot of them grouped beyond the flowers, but beware. Geese For All and All for Geese.  I’m suspiciously absent from their mantra.  I could be wrong, though, and the gaggle are exchanging knitting patterns. In case I’m right on, I will continue my surveillance. Does anybody truly know the mind of a goose?

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“The goose that lays the golden eggs likes to lay where there are eggs already.” Charles Spurgeon (No idea what this means, but I’ll keep a lookout for it).

Filed under: country life Tagged: Barnyard Geese, farm life, Pilgrim geese, The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Furbaby Friday with Author Jinny Kirby Baxter

I am happy to welcome my dear friend and talented wordsmith, Jinny Baxter, to share one of the most moving animal stories ever, and her debut novel.

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Jinny: It was the worst time of my life. Spring of 2003. I had just lost my husband. We were only married fifteen months when he went to heaven, and I was simply staggering with grief. Thankfully, I had two of the sweetest little granddaughters, Mandy and Kit, who tried very hard to cheer me up.

I wasn’t surprised when they led me through the woods behind their house to a secret hiding place for a mama cat and her litter of kittens. I told them no, I didn’t need some little wild cats to take care of. They insisted that I needed something to love and to love me.

Well, long story short, I ended up with two kittens, mainly because I wanted them to have someone to play with while I was at work. TJ was a black and white Tuxedo and Baby was a silver Tiger with blue eyes. TJ would remain an outdoor cat and Baby would live her entire life inside, my constant companion.

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The two little rascals became a family favorite. Even my son, who claimed he hated cats, grew to love them. Friends commented that TJ was so alert and sleek, he was like a panther. But Baby was the favorite. Her little pink nose topped a mouth that truly looked like a sweet smile. She, like most cats, insinuated herself into whatever I was doing, whether I was just reading a book or rushing a chair. Her snuggling was my favorite thing about her. Often, she would sleep with me and kneed my back, as if to say “Relax human mama, I’m here and I love you.”

When TJ was about five years old, he disappeared for a week. When he came home, he was obviously very sick. The vet gave me the terrible news, he had fatty liver disease and there wasn’t much they could do. I called my family and they all came to the vet’s office and cried with me as TJ crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. (I’m crying now, just remembering.)

A year later, I notice that Baby was having trouble breathing. Well, she was sick too. Stomach cancer. Once again, I called my family and we all wished her a wonderful journey to join her brother on the other side. There was so much emotion in that room that even the vet cried with us.

Oh, I grieved those fur babies.  I think they were more than pets, they were a connection to my late husband, they had shared my life while I slowly put it back together. I like to think TJ and Baby are together now, happy and rather smug as they say, “We completed our job on earth, we helped her find her way back to living her life.”

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Fanciful maybe, but there is so much we don’t know about the other side, so many possibilities.  A couple of weeks after we buried Baby, I was sitting out on my back porch at dusk. It was a dreary evening, rather chilly for the time of year and a thick fog had fallen over the area. Suddenly the fog shifted a bit and a silver-grey tabby appeared. She sat there for about five minutes while I struggled with disbelief and maybe even shock. I knew it was my Baby, come to let me know she was alright. Finally, I rose and approached her. She tilted her head as if to say “Good bye” and turned and walked back into the fog.  You’ll never convince me that our pets don’t have hearts and souls and give us unconditional love. I will always miss them, but they were very big stitches in the fabric of my life.

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Beth: Jinny, that was amazing and deeply touching. Thanks for sharing with us. I remember when you saw Baby, although I didn’t realize then the full significance of what she meant to you. I do now.

About Jinny’s new release:

“An August Affair” is my first book, although I have a lot of experience writing magazine and newspaper articles, as well as the dreaded SOP Manuals. (Standard Operating Procedures for work places.) This book was a refreshing labor of love where I could abandon excruciatingly boring facts and dream a little.

The setting is an old house in the mountains where many strange things have previously and are currently happening. My characters must figure out who committed a murder more than two-hundred years ago. Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves, and maybe fall in love.

[image error]Blurb for An August Affair:

Seth Berkeley was a man haunted by his past. Trapped in a small town with the ghost of his dead father’s perversions hovering over him, his prospects seemed bleak and hope was a distant fantasy. That all changed with the arrival of certified legal documents declaring him the sole beneficiary of a beautiful colonial estate in the mountains of Virginia. Seth jumped at this opportunity at a new beginning and left at once.

Willow Callahan suffered from one calamity after another. The most recent was leaving a job she loved after the sexual harassment of a new employee protected by nepotism made it impossible to continue working there. A chance encounter at a diner led her to discover that the old Berkeley estate may need renovating. Willow jumped at this chance to exorcise her personal demons and leave the specter of her past behind.

Their exploration leads to the discovery of a child’s skeleton on the wine cellar. From then on, every new discovery leads to danger and secrets they must unravel, and an unexpected passion neither of them wants. Can they solve the mystery of Seth’s heritage and heal their suspicious and fearful hearts along the way?

Excerpt:

She studied his face and could almost see the wall he put up. His bright blue eyes were shadowed and wary. “That sure sounds like an anxiety attack to me. And you used to have them? Were you ever treated for them? Medication? Therapy?”

Seth jerked back in embarrassment. “No! I got over it!”

Willow nodded, understanding instantly that this was a big issue for him. A sign of weakness, something real men didn’t do. “Have you ever tried to figure out what was causing it? Researched it on the internet or talked to a doctor?”

He frowned and shook his head. “No, I don’t even own a computer and my family, well, we didn’t go to the doctor for stuff like that. But it’s all over now; I don’t do that anymore.”

Willow raised an eyebrow and gave him a pointed look. He felt his face heat and averted his gaze. “Well, not until today,” he mumbled.

“Seth,” she urged, “I don’t want you to strip yourself bare. I just want to understand what happened so maybe I can help you get over it. If I’ve done something that reminds you of a bad time, tell me, I’ll stop. We all have things in our past we don’t want to share. I know I do. But I took them out and looked at them and decided I had to put them behind me. I couldn’t go on until I did. And the same goes for you. If you are hanging on to a bunch of yesterdays, you can’t embrace today. Do you understand that?”

Author Bio

Jinny Kirby Baxter is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who has always dreamed of being a published author. Her life has been filled with many obstacles, but here she is at this late date killing it! She has written many newspaper and magazine articles, as well as the dreaded SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) for her past employment. Some of her past experiences prompted her to write about a man tortured by childhood abuse and the growing awareness of this despicable social problem. Her mantra is “It’s never too late to shine” and dreams can come true for all of us! She lives with her sister in a small town in Nevada and is working on a sequel to her first book!

***An August Affair is available in kindle: 
https://www.amazon.com/August-Affair-Jinny-Kirby-Baxter-ebook/dp/B073JJJXN2/

Follow Jinny’s Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Jinny-Kirby-Baxter/e/B073KKLMH7

Filed under: Romance Tagged: author animal companions, Cat and kitten rescue, cats for grief, Furbaby Friday, Paranormal, pet therapy, romance, western romance