Saturday Spotlight - Paty Jager!

Hi Friends,

Back again for another edition of Saturday Spotlight and today we're meeting author Paty Jager who will tell us about her book, Outlaw in Petticoats!

Paty is a wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; Paty Jager has not only brought her husband of twenty-nine years to maturity, but four children and over a hundred head of cattle and swine.

She began her writing career as a freelance reporter for local newspapers. Found RWA (Romance Writers of America) and after eight years of attending many conferences, workshops, and being a finalist in eight contests, she broke into the publishing industry with a new e-book and POD publisher, The Wild Rose Press. She credits the RWA organization for helping her work on her craft to become a published author and giving her the contacts necessary to build her career.

Two western romance historical books were published in 2006. Marshal in Petticoats and Gambling on an Angel. Her third romance novel, Perfectly Good Nanny, a contemporary western romance, was selected as a 2008 EPPIE Finalist. The second book of the Halsey brothers series, Outlaw in Petticoats, is available in e-book and will be in print November 7, 2008. All books may be purchased in both electronic and print formats at all e-book and print distributors.

To learn more about Paty, her books, and to enter her website contest go to http://www.patyjager.com/

Blurb for Outlaw in Petticoats:
Maeve Loman has had her heart crushed before; she isn't about to have it happen again. When she takes Zeke Halsey up on his offer to help her discover the truth about her father, she's sure she can control her traitorous body and not fall for the man's considerable charms.

Zeke Halsey has wanted Maeve Loman since he first set eyes on the prickly schoolteacher. Even as she thwarts his advances, he sees the desire burning in her eyes. He knows she feels abandoned and uses bravado to keep people at arm’s length. Offering to help her find her father, he hopes to prove he’s not going anywhere.

Excerpt:
He kneed his horse up alongside her gelding. “Any chance you know how to use that pretty gun you have hanging from your hip?” He said it in jest, but realized his error when she turned a narrowed blue gaze on him.

“It just so happens, my father taught me one thing before he left us.” She drew the pistol from her holster, leveled it, and cocked the hammer with her thumb. Glancing at him, a sly, crooked smile tipped her lips. She squeezed the trigger.

Peering past the spiral of smoke at the end of the pistol, he watched a pine cone topple off a limb.
She rode over to the pine cone, dismounted, and handed it up to him.

He whistled and stared at the hole in the middle. “Not bad. You can watch my back any time.”

Her dark eyebrows arched, and her mouth opened slightly.

Zeke wanted to lean down and kiss her.

When she found her voice she asked, “You don’t care I can outshoot most men?”

“As long as you don’t use that gun on me, you can outshoot anyone you want.” He couldn’t keep from laughing. She expected him to be insulted because she was a better shot than him. She obviously hadn’t been studying him like he studied her.

“I don’t understand you. Most men would have a conniption if a woman shot better than them.” She mounted her horse.

“Any man worth his salt knows his weaknesses and doesn’t begrudge someone else who is better.” He shook his head. “And Sweetheart, you’re better with a pistol than I am.” He nudged his horse up alongside hers.

He caught her behind the neck with one hand and leaned in, capturing her lips before she could move away. Dang, but she tasted good. When he felt the horses moving apart, he let her go. Her eyes remained closed, and she licked her lips. The quick rise and fall of her chest, made him grin. She could deny her feelings all she wanted, but he knew how he affected her, and he’d keep on plying her with kisses until she realized he wasn’t going anywhere.

I just love a good western romance, don't you?

Well Friends, that about wraps it up for another week. Hope you plan on entering my Sweetheart Contest.

Until later, take care and God BLESS!

Pamela S Thibodeaux

"Inspirational with an Edge!"

Novel Editions

Hello Again Friends!

Last Thursday I told you about a new promotion company, Pertinent Promotions. Today I'd like to share with you a new review site - Novel Editions.

Novel Editions is a Christian-based business, and while they will review secular material, they will only feature books and stories that are rated G/PG.

The staff looks forward to helping you discover a great and wholesome read.

If you’re a publisher looking for a new promotional outlet for your authors, please email them. They welcome regular submissions from large and small press–both traditional and electronic and/or POD publishers.

Novel Editions also offers Author Promotion at a very reasonable price!

Well Friends, as promised another great place for authors to get reviews and/or promotion and readers to find good, clean fiction and non-fiction!

Hope you've enjoyed this information. Both Pertinent Promotions and Novel Editions are added to my "Areas of Interest for Authors" so check 'em out!

Until later....take care and Be BLESSED!
PamT

A Sweetheart of a Contest

Hello Friends!

As we all know, the flagging economy is forcing businesses to make tough decisions and the book industry is no exception. Book stores are closing. Publishers are laying off people, cutting back on production, and pulling titles from distribution.

What’s an author to do?

Get those sales up.

So I'm having a Valentine’s Day contest Where Everyone Receives a Gift!

Between Jan. 31st & Feb. 13th

Everyone who enters will receive Thib’s Teaser (a pdf with blurbs/excerpts/discount coupons/short story) AND their name will be entered into a drawing for the GRAND PRIZE – simply email Pertinent Promotions at ppromocntst@aol.com with Sweetheart Contest in the subject line.

No Purchase Necessary to Participate
~HOWEVER ~

Purchase any (1) Tempered novel and, along with Thib’s Teaser you will receive a Special Surprise Gift and your name will go into the drawing twice for the Grand Prize! Simply forward a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase to ppromocntst@aol.com (include your mailing address for the surprise gift).

Purchase 2 Tempered novels and in addition to Thib’sTeaser you will Receive a Special Surprise Gift, Your pick of a FREE download of either Choices or Cathy’s Angel and three chances to win the Grand Prize! Simply forward a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase to ppromocntst@aol.com (pick your short story and include your mailing address for your surprise gift)

Purcahse the first 3 Tempered novels (Tempered Hearts, Tempered Dreams & Tempered Fire) and in addition to Thib’s Teaser you will Receive: A Special Surprise Gift, Your pick of a FREE download of either Cathy’s Angel or Choices a FREE autographed copy of Tempered Joy and 4 chances to win the Grand Prize! Simply forward a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase to ppromocntst@aol.com (pick your short story and include your mailing address for your autographed copy of Tempered Joy & your surprise gift)

Together we can take the Tempered Series to Amazon’s Best Seller List!

**Amazon Purchase NOT Your ONLY Option**
If you purchase Any of the Tempered Series according to the rules above from your local book store, MAIL a copy of your receipt to Pertinent Promotions c/o Pamela S Thibodeaux, PO Box 324, Iowa, LA 70647 and your prizes will be the same as those listed.

Same rules apply if you purchase DIGITAL copies of The Tempered Books *Note* If you purchase digital copies of Tempered Hearts, Tempered Dreams, and Tempered Fire according to the rules above, you will receive a digital copy of Tempered Joy. *Digital copies also available @ All Romance Ebooks!

Winner will be announced on Feb 14th
*All entrants will be added to Pertinent Promotions and the Author’s personal mailing lists.*

Grand Prize: CD of my TWRP titles which includes 3 short stores (Cathy’s Angel, Choices, & A Hero for Jessica), 1 full-length novel The Inheritance, an advanced copy of my Upcoming Release Winter Madness (short story) and a Valentine Gift Basket!

Hope you enter and PLEASE, pass the word!!

Thanks Friends.
PamT

Saturday Spotlight - Sharon Donovan!

Time for another Saturday Spotlight Dear Friends!

Today I'd like to introduce to you a very special lady and fellow TWRP author, Sharon Donovan.

Sharon has been a type 1 diabetic since she was six years old. While in her early twenties, she developed diabetic retinopathy, a condition which has led to progressive blindness. Painting was her passion. She enjoyed experimenting with both oils and acrylics bu as her vision faded with each passing year, it became increasingly difficult to pursue that passion. After much heartache, a new dream resurrected. Today, motivated by new insight, instead of painting pictures on canvas, she paints them with words.

Along with her books, she is writing a memoir about the loss of her vision where she offer words of encouragement to those facing a visual impairment. When she's not writing stories of inspiration, you’ll find her penning about the twists and turns of the mind in suspense novels. Two books are currently being reviewed, and two of short stories are contracted with the Wild Rose Press.


Sharon is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Pennwriters, and a critique group which is currently putting together an anthology. Her charity of choice is JDRF Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - fight for the cure.


To find our more about Sharon visit her Website or blog.



Blurb for Touched by an Angel: To the guardian angels who keep watch over those who sleep in the deep quiet earth.

On the eve of his wife’s death anniversary, Charles is as restless as the coming storm. Surrounded by the eerie stillness of the Mojave Desert, he contemplates suicide. But just as he is about to jump, he hears the sweet melodic voice of his wife, telling him it’s not his time.

Then Charles meets Emma who looks so much like his wife she could be her twin. Bewitched and bewildered, Charles is drawn to her. And when they discover their spouses have died on the same day and are buried side by side in the same cemetery, a spiritual bonding occurs that neither can deny. Is it fate—or is Cupid shooting arrows from the sweet hereafter?


Touched by an Angel is available now from The Wild Rose Press!


Well Friends, that about sums it up for another shot of Saturday Spotlight! If Sharon's story doesn't inspire you, nothing will LOL!


Hope to see you next week when I spotlight Patty Jager.


Until later....take care and be BLESSED!
PamT

Pertinent Promotions

Hello Again Friends!

Hope you’ve enjoyed the special guests I’ve had on the blog this past week.

As you well know, I often post when I find a new review or blogsite or some other information that is beneficial to authors and readers. Today I’d like to tell you about Pertinent Promotions, a new company that helps authors wade through the maze of promotional avenues available to them.

Authors know the value of promotion when it comes to sales, but how many of us can truly pay hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars or spend hours each day doing this?

Certainly not I.

That’s why I was so happy to find Pertinent Promotions! PP offers generous promotion for a great price. So if you’re an author looking for help in this area, or a reader wanting to find new authors, visit Pertinent Promotions @ Facebook or email them at: pertinentpromo@aol.com

Join me Saturday for a spotlight on new author Sharon Donovan and her book Touched by an Angel - another Pertinent Promotions client.

Until then....Be BLESSED!
Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)

VBT - Linore Burkard - Before the Season Ends

Well Friends,

You are in for a real treat with 3 special guests in a row!

Today's guest is Linore Burkhard which is on a virtual tour with her book, Before the Season Ends.

I haven't read Linore's book, but from what I hear and have learned, those that do are in for a real treat and I LOVE her tagline..... "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austin Soul."

Linore Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800 - 1830). Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone.

Blurb: England, 1813: Romantic woes at home send Ariana Forsythe to her Aunt Bentley's town house in the fashionable Mayfair district of London. There she finds worse troubles than those that prompted her flight from home. Under her aunt's watchful eye, Ariana is soon steeped in high society--and at odds with Mr. Phillip Mornay, London's current darling rogue.

Then, unexpectedly, rumour of a scandal changes Ariana forever. Her faith and her future are at stake in an unexpected adventure that gains even the Prince Regent's attention.

Will Ariana's faith survive this test? And what about her heart? For it is Ariana's heart that most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in. When she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to a man who cannot share her faith, how can it ever turn out right?

Read Chapter One Here!

You can find out more about Linore and her books by visiting her Website .

Purchase your copy of Before the Season Ends directly from the Author, @ Amazon.com or Christian Book.com

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed learning about Linore and her book.

Until later....Be Blessed!

Pam T

Saturday Spotlight - Cindy K Green!

Well Folks, looks like you'll be introduced to 2 authors this week.

Today's spotlight is on fellow author Cindy K Green and her book Relationship Rescue.

Cindy was born in California but now calls North Carolina home along with her husband and two young sons. Growing up, she loved reading and writing, but her heart always lay in teaching. After graduating from college with a degrees in history and education, Cindy taught Jr. High for four years in just about every subject. After the birth of her second child, she was able to stay home and focus on her writing as well as homeschool her children. She received her first contract in 2006 and hasn't slowed down since. Cindy writes for The Wild Rose Press, By Grace Publishing, and Moonlit Romance. Her titles cover several genres including: Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, and Historical. In her (non-existent) spare time, she loves reading, photography, scrapbooking, Period Dramas, and spending time with family.

Learn more about Cindy and her books at http://www.cindykgreen.com/ or http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/

Blurb: Two blind dates: one was stood up and the other one wishes she was. Have they both been set up in more ways than one?

After Mitchell Regan and Robynn Hartley broke off their engagement, they remained friends and continued attending the same church. They've attempted to keep their unhappiness a secret from each other and everyone else but they can't fool their close friends, Marina and Chad Anthony, who decide enough is enough. It's time for a Relationship Rescue.

Excerpt:

“You know, Robynn, I think we’ve been set-up.”

“Set-up? Yes, I was set-up. It was a blind date, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why Marina and Chad thought I would have gotten along with Norman Clark.”

“That’s my point. Marina and Chad set me up on a blind date that never showed. You had the date from a sitcom episode.”

Robynn sat up straight. “We were set-up!”

Mitch glanced at the counter again. Robynn turned around to look as well, her face close to his, sending his pulse racing. As he glanced down, she turned her eyes up to him and they locked onto each other. The pull to kiss her here and now was intense. “Robynn, I think they were hoping we might bump into each other tonight and talk just like we have.”

Realization entered her eyes. She began to nod her head as she spoke. “I know Marina was terribly disappointed when we didn’t get married.” She swallowed hard on the last word, her eyes glistening again.

“I think there were several people disappointed about that but maybe we don’t have disappoint them tonight.”

“What do you mean?” A stony expression entered her hooded eyes as she deeply assessed him. She didn’t trust him any further than she could throw him and he couldn’t blame her.

After taking her hand firmly into his, they sat back into the couch. It seemed like an eternity since he’d held her hand so intimately. It gave him the courage to go on. “Come take a walk with me…

Relationship Rescue is Available Now at The Wild Rose Press for only $1.50!

Well that's it for another Saturday Spotlight!

Until later....take care and God Bless.

PamT

The Sinner's Guide to Confession Virtual Book Tour

Hello Friends,

Today I'm hosting author Phyllis Schieber whose book, Sinner's Guide to Confession is on Virtual Book Tour with Nikki Leigh Promotions.

In light of Tuesday's post let me warn you: This book is not inspirational but mainstream women's fiction. One of the characters writes erotic romance and some scenes may not be suitable for young/conservative readers.

About Sinner's Guide to Confession:
Kaye and Barbara are longtime friends, now in their fifties. Ellen, who is several years younger, develops a friendship with the other two women years later, solidifying this close-knit group. The three women are inseparable, yet each nurtures a secret that she keeps from the others.

About Author Phyllis Schieber:
The first great irony of my life was that I was born in a Catholic hospital. My parents, survivors of the Holocaust, had settled in the South Bronx among other new immigrants. .In the mid-fifties, my family moved to Washington Heights. The area offered scenic views of the Hudson River and the Palisades, as well as access to Fort Tryon Park and the mysteries of the Cloisters. Her first novel, Strictly Personal, for young adults, was published by Fawcett-Juniper. The Sinner's Guide to Confession, was released by Berkley Putnam and in March 2008, Berkley Putnam will issue the first paperback publication of Willing Spirits.

Win A Free Book from Phyllis Schieber! – Its very easy to be entered in a drawing for a FREE book by Phyllis Schieber. Post comments on any blogs during the virtual tour and you will have a chance to win a book from Phyllis. One random person will win – but we are also asking visitors to share a secret and one secret will also win a free book. As a bonus the blog owner that hosted the winning comments will also win a book. Share some interesting stories and questions with Phyllis Schieber during her tour – and have a chance to win a book.

Read an Excerpt

Note From Author: Although I didn’t originally intend it to be that way, this book became Ellen’s story as soon it became evident that her secret was the most profound. Ellen is the youngest and the most self-contained in the group. A bit younger and almost entirely estranged from her family, Ellen is also betrayed by her husband Bill—the only one with whom she has every shared her secret—when she was 16, her parents, her mother especially, forced her to give up her daughter at birth. Unable to ever conceive again, Ellen is unable to convince Bill to adopt a child. When he leaves her for a younger, soon pregnant, woman Ellen is completely alone, except for Barbara and Kaye who are there when Ellen is ready to confess her greatest loss. In this excerpt, Ellen recalls her last days in the maternity home, what life was like after the baby’s birth and about sharing her secret with Bill many years later.

Chapter Three:
During the long walks she took each morning, Ellen told her baby about herself, hoping Faith would understand and forgive her mother’s awful predicament. Although everyone was kind, no one could understand the depth of her sadness. They tried to reassure her that she was doing the right thing, giving her baby a chance for a good life. That made Ellen cringe each time. She could not wrap her mind around that phrase. A good life. Ellen was told to put it all behind her. She was assured that she would forget all about the baby. It would be as if it had never happened. Alice offered parting words that chilled Ellen to the core. “Unless you want everyone to know you’re a whore,” Alice said, “you will never tell anyone that you got yourself pregnant.” After all, Alice said, no one wanted the cow if the milk was free.

After Faith was taken away, Ellen returned to her parents’ home, where everyone pretended that she had never been pregnant. When her breasts became engorged, Ellen’s mother gave her a breast pump and an instruction booklet, advising her to wrap her chest between expressing. But the ache of Ellen’s breasts was nothing compared with the dull, persistent pain that accompanied every waking moment since she had said goodbye to Faith. Ellen had studied her daughter’s tiny face, memorizing every detail, forcing herself to believe that the years would not change the miniature physiognomy of this tiny perfect creature. At the final moment, Ellen kissed her full on the mouth, tasting the sweetness of her breath and blowing gently into her, wanting to give something of herself. That very same day, a Wednesday, Ellen went home. By Monday, she was back at school, wearing her old clothes and participating in the charade her parents had invented. She kept her promise not to talk about The Baby. (They never referred to her as Faith.) And Ellen never broke that promise until she met Bill. The tenderness of his response when she divulged her secret unleashed a lifetime of sadness. He clucked his tongue, just like a woman would, and kept repeating how sorry he was for her loss. Loss. The import of that statement made Ellen reel. In Bill’s arms, she cried for her lost baby as if years had not passed.

Bill even offered to help find Faith. There were ways. It was done all the time now. The Internet had made everything possible. Even closed adoptions had been revoked in some states. But Ellen felt that she had to follow Faith’s cue. She had never come in search of her birth mother, and Ellen felt compelled to respect her daughter’s wishes. Bill thought it was nonsense. Perhaps Baby Faith, as he called her, did not even know she was adopted. It was a possibility, Ellen agreed. Maybe her adoptive parents had cautioned her against a search. There was any number of possibilities. Still, she would not take the lead in this search. Faith would come to her when she was ready.

The next cruelest blow was also the greatest irony. Ellen’s yearning to be a mother again could not be met on any level. The infertility procedures were futile and humiliating. Bill had probably already been thinking that she had suddenly become too old for him could, therefore, be cavalier about her desire to mother. He scoffed at her unsatisfied emotions and encouraged her to find other outlets for her maternal energies. He could afford such disregard for her feelings because while Ellen was engrossed with the Internet researching adoption alternatives, he was no longer interested in her. But he was not entirely indifferent to her anguish. Perhaps, he even suggested to Ellen, she might volunteer at the local hospital. They were always looking for people to hold crack babies. Yes, Ellen agreed, blinking back tears, holding crack babies was much better than having a child of her own. She could not imagine why she had not thought of it herself. And off Bill went, smug with self-satisfaction, while Ellen reassured herself he would come round eventually.

And now she was alone. Ellen did not mind being alone. The humiliation of Bill’s betrayal still smarted, but she refused to hate him. When she looked in the mirror, she was not saddened by the lines around her eyes or the slack in the skin on her neck. Bill used to tease her that being pretty was more important than anything else in her life. Bill had been wrong about that too, of course. Nothing had ever been as important to Ellen as finding Faith. Not then . . . and not now. Not ever.

For full details about Phyllis Schieber's virtual tour, visit her tour home page - http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/12/sinners-guide-to-confession-by-phyllis.html

Order Your Copy here - http://tr.im/2x1g

Visit Phyllis Schieber http://www.thesinnersguidetoconfession.com/ or http://www.phyllisschieber.blogspot.com/

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this special guest!

See you Saturday when I Spotlight Cindy K Green!

Until later....take care and God Bless!
PamT

My Dilemma

Hello Friends,

Hope your New Year is starting off BLESSED.

Recently I sent a call out to authors about my Saturday Spotlight feature. One author's response really got my attention.

She wrote, "Dear Pam, I saw you write inspirational so I was wondering if you take Erotic as well or not. If not, that's fine, I understand completely. But I am interested, if you do."

Up until this point, I'd never considered NOT hosting an author based on what he/she writes. As you know, I've hosted numerous titles and even DVD's on their tour, so this never crossed my mind. But it did get me to thinking....

Should I, an Inspirational (albeit "with an edge!") author NOT offer a fellow writer a bit of exposure (no pun intended) because he/she writes something I wouldn't read?

Would I want to be robbed of a promotional opportunity because of what I DON'T write?

I think not.

Here is my response to her... "I will spotlight you on my blog as long as your cover/blurb/excerpt is not overtly sexual but I may put a disclaimer on the blog LOL!"

So Dear Cherished Reader Friends, out of respect for you, when I host an author on Saturday Spotlight who writes hot, steamy, romance, I will write a warning in RED at the beginning of that post.

Watch for great authors coming to Saturday Spotlight!

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)

Saturday Spotlight - Liana Laverentz!

Liana Laverentz is the author of two contemporary romances with The Wild Rose Press, Thin Ice and Jake’s Return.

Thin Ice is a 2007 New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Award winner, a 2008 EPPIE winner for best contemporary romance, and was a nominee for Best Romance of 2007 at Long and Short Reviews. Jake’s Return is a 2008 Golden Leaf Award Winner.

Her next release, Ashton’s Secret, a murder mystery romance, will be available from The Wild Rose Press on June 26, 2009. For more information, go to http://www.lianalaverentz.com/

Read a Blurb & Excerpt of Jake’s Return

Blurb: The last person small town bad boy Jacob Donovan expects to find when he returns home in disgrace after serving time is Rebecca Reed, head librarian. Rebecca had always had much bigger ambitions. Jake hadn’t wanted to stand in her way, so after one night of passion with his former best friend, he’d hit the open road.

Rebecca refuses to believe Jake is guilty of murder. The boy who’d been her friend and protector when they were town outcasts together could never have killed a woman. Not to mention the tender, loving man who’d given her their daughter, Katie.

But who is Jake now? That’s what everyone wants to know, including the town council chairman, who is determined to send Jake back to prison, by any means available.

Jake’s been running from love for all of his life. Will he find the courage to defeat his demons and stay this time?

Excerpt:

Rebecca Reed would never forget the sound of Jacob Donovan walking back into her life. The sharp hiss of startled gasps that suddenly swept across the town library’s main reading room was enough to grab anyone’s attention. She frowned and straightened from where she was shelving books in the children’s section, looked to see what had happened, and felt her heart stop.

Omigod, she thought. He’s here. He’s really here. In Warner.

Her heart jerked to a start again, and she was sure every soul in the building could hear its wild, erratic beat in the shocked silence that had settled over the room.
Jake stood at the front desk, his left profile turned toward her and the rest of the main reading room. He looked tall, dark and rangy in faded denims and a black T-shirt that matched his windswept hair. The clerk behind the desk finished checking out a patron with two small children. A short, stout, no-nonsense woman who had never married, Eunice Lee Larmer had been with the library for as long as most of the town could remember. She looked up at Jake and froze, her eyes rounding with recognition. Her face two shades paler, she stepped back carefully.

The sight of Eunice’s fear sparked a surge of protective anger in Rebecca, taking her by surprise. Damn. She’d thought she was prepared for this.
Obviously not. Telling herself she was rescuing the situation—not Jake—Rebecca started forward just as Jake turned her way. His expression stopped Rebecca in her tracks. He looked completely out of place. Completely unapproachable. A lone wolf barely tolerating the trappings of civilization.

An eternity passed as she bore the weight of his sharp scrutiny from across the now suffocatingly silent room. Rebecca would have sworn she actually felt his cold, dark gaze move from the top of her French twist to the tips of her navy pumps.She shivered.

Sounding as if it were right next door instead of three blocks away, the daily noon wail of the firehouse siren pierced the unnatural silence. The familiar sound seemed to nudge everyone back to life. Rebecca swallowed hard and braced herself to meet Jake again, to speak with him for the first time in eight years.

The first time since the night he’d given her Katie.

Amid a rising tide of rustles and scandalized whispers, Jake seemed to recall why he’d come to the library. As he slowly wended his way across the crowded reading room to where Rebecca stood, neither of them smiling, a paralyzing thought struck her.

What if he still doesn’t want anything to do with us?

She beat back her own wave of fear, and focused on Jake. He was leaner now, harder and tougher-looking than she remembered. True, he’d always looked tough, but his toughness as a teenager had been a façade. One she’d seen through from the start. But this was different. This was no small town bad boy trying to make the best of his messed-up life alone. This was a grown man who’d spend most of his adult life in hell.

With a sinking sense of dread Rebecca realized she’d made a mistake. She was staring into the face of a stranger.

“Hello, Rebecca.”

His voice was rougher, deeper than she remembered. Deep enough to send a shot of awareness down her spine. “Jake.”

“Been a long time.”

Rebecca knew exactly how long it had been. Counting Jake’s four-year stint in the army, with the exception of those few unforgettable hours they’d shared in Pittsburgh eight years ago, they’d been apart for almost twelve years.
Before that, they’d been the town outcasts together.

“You’re looking good,” he said quietly.

“Thank you. You look...fit.”

He arched a dark brow. “Considering I spent the last eight years locked up, you mean?”

Rebecca flushed. A nearby cough reminded her everyone within earshot would shamelessly repeat anything she or Jake said, first chance they got. A town like Warner had precious few secrets, and Jake obviously didn’t intend to play down his recent parole from prison.

She squared her shoulders and offered Jake her most professional smile. “Would you like a cup of coffee? My office is right behind the desk.”

“Your office?” He looked blank, then over his shoulder at the checkout desk, the open door that led to the tiny office behind it. The eavesdroppers’ expressions ranged from indignant to shocked. Frowning, Jake turned back to Rebecca. “You’re head librarian?”

She understood his confusion. She wasn’t even supposed to be in Warner, much less working at the library. The last time he’d seen her, she’d had much bigger plans. “For three years now.”

Jake stared at her a moment longer, then ran a slow, speculative gaze over her short-skirted navy summer suit and heels. Just as slowly, he smiled. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

Rebecca’s knees nearly buckled. His smile was vintage Jake. Reckless, unrepentant, and sexier than black satin sheets. Her heartbeat soared, her palms broke into a sweat. With what she considered an amazing amount of grace, given the state of her nerves, she managed to smile back neutrally and avoid tripping over anything as she led Jake past their astonished audience, and into her office.

Once inside, she made a beeline for the coffee pot, then forced herself to take a deep breath before she handed Jake a steaming mug of coffee. “Black still okay?” Her hand only trembled a little.

His slow half-smile hovered between some private amusement and pleasant surprise. “You remembered.”

Jake's Return is available NOW in Ebook and Print~ Get your copy today!

Well Folks, that's another Saturday Spotlight for you. Until later....take care God Bless and remember....reading a book is like going on an adventure.

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I had no clue what to write about today so decided I'd just sit down and tell you what I've been doing.

The White Roses in Bloom Authors are sprucing up our blog and I've been working on that along with Kara Lynn Russell and Nicola Beaumont. We've created a Yahoo Loop to discuss promotion, changed the template and colors, and revised the sidebars. I've also made a calendar for whose turn to post on the blog so exposure and hopefully traffic will increase.

If you're looking to find more inspirational authors, run over to the blog and check us out!

I've also been preparing for a couple more promotional activities. In Feburary, I'll be the Featured White Rose at LASR and in April I'll be spotlighted in the Self/POD Publishing column in Christian Fiction Online Magazine.

At Bayou Writers Group meeting on Saturday, Jan. 3rd we set goals for 2009. I talked about that a little in a previous post but being asked to write them down forced me to be a little more specific, so here they are....

Revise/Resubmit Christmas story - Season of Miracles
Complete Editing - Circles of Fate
Revise/lengthen/strengthen - Lori's Redemption
At least START new novel
Promote, promote, promote :-)

One personal goal - get to ideal weight. (who doesn't resolve to do this? LOL!)

Email me anytime to check the status of those goals.

Until later....take care, God Bless and remember....a good book takes you places you've never been and gives you insight into another life.

Don't forget - Saturday's Spotlight is on Liana Laverentz and her novel Jake's Return so stop on by!

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)

Whew! What a Week!

Well Friends,

The holidays are over and it's back to the grind LOL!

This past week has truly been exciting. As I mentioned in my New Year Post, Tempered Joy received a 5book review @ LASR.

In addition, I received another glowing review from long-time reader/reviewer, Kari Thomas.

In her email Kari said..... "The emotions you bring out in a story makes it so beautiful. I have to say, I will definitely be recommending this book to all!"

You can read her entire review @ Kari's Corner - it is the last one on the page.

Not much else going on right now, just trying to get back into routine after so many days off.

Be sure and stop back by on Saturday for our spotlight with Liana Laverentz!



Until later....take care, God Bless and remember....sorrow may come in the night, but Joy will be found in the morning.

Tempered Joy is available now!

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inpirational with an Edge!" (TM)

Saturday Spotlight - Judith Gilbert

Hello Friends,

2009's first Saturday Spotlight is fellow author, Judith Gilbert and her book A Perfect Affair

Bio: I always loved to read romance and longed to try my hand at writing various genres, but that practical side of me went for an accounting degree instead. After working in accounting for the government and later as a Sr. Financial Analyst for a major oil company in Houston, I walked away from the pressure cooker corporate world to chase my dream of writing. My husband and two children think I've lost my mind, taking on the stress and pressure of a publishing career that chews authors up every day, but I'm still chasing that dream of mine. Drop by either of my websites: http://www.authorjudithgilbert.com/ or http://www.authorjgilbert.com/ and wish me luck! Just
double click on Judith Gilbert or J Gilbert button to access the websites and don't forget to enter the two website contests I run each month.

BLURB After losing her father, divorcee Katherine Cahill goes back home to Houston and fights to return the joy of Christmas to her mother and young son. At the same time she secretly battles two men, her two-timing ex-husband who blackmails her, and a Texas attorney hell-bent on sharing his bed, but not his heart.

Jared Randall swore he would never get involved with another divorced woman after the fiasco when his fiancée returned to her ex. Then, he made two colossal mistakes—rescuing ice princess Katherine Cahill from her mother’s roof and playing Santa. His cobwebby Santa brows get him in trouble, thanks to his promise to Katherine’s son.

READ AN EXCERPT
SET-UP: Katherine, a divorcee, and Jared are at a Christmas party her mother is having. Paul is Katherine’s ex-husband, who she hopes will mend his relationship with their five-year-old son, Matt. At the same time, Katherine doesn’t want to give Paul any ideas about the two of them ever getting back together again.

EXCERPT
They sat on oversized cushions around the fireplace and ate from plates balanced on their legs. Katherine peered at Jared over a glass. “You feel better about the arrangement my mother and I worked out?” She took a sip of tea and set the glass down.

He finished a large bite of chocolate pie. “Most of it. One part makes me mad as hell though.”

Katherine rolled her eyes and stared up at the crown molding along the ceiling. “Am I suppose to guess what part you hate?”

His fork waved enticingly below her nose. “It’s the last bite. You want it?”
Without hesitation, her mouth opened and closed around the pie. His lips curved upward as he withdrew the plastic fork and set it on his paper plate. The dimple in his cheek seduced her into staring at his mouth. Such a strong, inviting mouth.

“Tell me why you’re escorting me and Grace is escorting Paul and not the other way around.”

She forced her shoulders back and sat up straight. “You don’t want to be with me?”

He gave her an arched glance. “You know better than that. Stop avoiding answering me.”

“I wanted to discourage Paul,” she whispered. The words sounded worse when she said them aloud.

He crossed his arms. “That’s the part I hate.”

She jerked to her feet. “What have you got to be mad about? You aren’t the one jumping through hoops.” Swinging away, she snatched dirty plates and wads of napkins from tables, from mantles, from people’s hands, and stalked into the empty kitchen. He followed close behind her.

Jared threw a stack of used cups into a garbage bag, then held it open for Katherine. She glared at him as she shoved the pile of trash in. He took a twist tie from the counter and sealed the bag.

“I’ll tell you why I’m mad.” He moved toward her. She backed up flush against the refrigerator.

With his hands on either side of her, he leaned into her. His breath fanned her cheeks. “Men don’t like to hear a woman’s with them because of another man. Makes the man she’s with feel used.”

“I found her!” Matt yelled as he burst into the kitchen.

They jumped apart, but not before Katherine saw the hurt in Jared’s eyes. Hurt she’d put there. A lump swelled in her throat.

Matt ran to her and handed her a box. “Grandma says it’s time for you to come put the angel on the tree before anything else goes on.”

Katherine mouthed the words, “I’m sorry,” as she laced her fingers into Jared’s. “We’ll talk later.” She wanted to try and make it up to him in some way. He didn’t resist her urging him forward. She gazed up into his deep blue eyes. “Mother asked me to put the angel on the tree. Will you help?”

Jared shrugged, reached and took the box from her. “Of course.”

Matt grabbed her other hand and they walked together from the kitchen into the living room.

Jared stood in front of the ladder. “That thing won’t do us any good. It’s too small for this big tree.”

With “O Come All Ye Faithful” playing softly in the background, Jared carefully removed the angel from the box. His gaze moved from the porcelain figurine to Katherine. “I don’t want my big hands to break anything. You hold onto her, and I’ll lift you up so you can put her on the tree.”

She reached out and took the angel. “You’re going to lift me way up there?” Her gaze moved the full length of the tree and she chewed on her bottom lip.

“Trust me, Katherine.”

She hesitated, then stepped forward with her arms lifted. Katherine held their special angel aloft with both hands. Jared stood behind her and placed his hands on her waist. He hoisted her above him and moved her within easy reach of her goal.
His warm hands splayed around her waist. She shuddered as his large palms rested on the top of her hips and inched her upward. Maybe this man could support her.
She carefully placed the figurine on the top branch and stopped to adjust the angel’s beautiful gown. She paused a moment to savor the warm sensation of Jared holding her.

“Okay, you can let me down,” Katherine whispered.

Ever so gently, Jared lowered her to the floor. They backed away from the tree, Katherine’s body humming with a strange, new feeling. She stayed at his side. Her mother moved forward, bent and plugged the cord into the socket. The angel glowed with a warm light of Christmas hope.

“Look up!” her mother suggested.

Directly above their heads, a large clump of mistletoe dangled from the ceiling.
The room filled with hoots of laughter, and catcalls, except for Paul. He glared disapproving daggers at both of them.

Her gaze flew to her mother, who wore a satisfied expression. Katherine’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Go for it,” someone from the crowd called out.

“It’s a tradition,” Reverend Whittaker murmured. “Can’t break from tradition.”

Her still-narrowed gaze scanned the throng. Her matchmaking mother had put that mistletoe up here and asked her to put the angel on the tree. They’re all in on getting me and Jared to kiss.

She glanced at Jared, who didn’t seem to mind the situation at all. In fact, from the glint in his eyes, he thoroughly enjoyed it. A hint of his tantalizing cologne fogged her thinking. His eyes said, ‘I’m going to kiss you.’ Her mind warned, ‘Don’t kiss him back. Not here.’

Her body shuddered when Jared bent slightly and claimed her mouth. His lips moved over hers tentatively, then his tongue entreated her to open, refusing any answer but yes. When she opened to him, he slanted his mouth and deepened the kiss. Her tongue darted to find his and she tasted chocolate delight. She dipped her tongue to taste him again. Her legs weakened and she slipped her arms around his waist for support. He held her secure, lifted his mouth, delivered a light parting kiss on her lower lip and drew back. She gazed into eyes dark with desire and stepped out of his embrace.

“Way to go. Now, that’s how you kiss a woman,” someone yelled.

Paul muttered a curse word and stormed out the front door.

“That should discourage your ex,” Jared whispered.

A Perfect Affair is available in Ebook and Print!

Hope you enjoyed this week's Saturday Spotlight. Be sure and drop by often, you'll never know what'll happen or who'll show up next time.

Until later....take care, God Bless and remember....a New Year is the perfect opportunity to start a New Life - so give your's to Christ.

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)

Happy New Year!

Today's the day we all glance back at our lives and look forward to the chance to begin anew. I hope you are pleased with the blessings God has showered you with in 2008 - I know I am and I'm SO looking forward to 2009.

Just wanted to drop in and wish All of You, My Friends a Safe, Happy and BLESSED New Year and a prosperous 2009!

If you have a spare minute, run over to Romance EBooks Newsletter published by Debby Allen and check out my author spotlight.

Another note...Tempered Joy received a 5 book review at Long and Short Reviews!

Don't forget to check back here on Saturday for our Spotlight on Judith Gilbert.

Until later....take care, God BLESS and remember....stay positive, count your blessings and 2009 will be fine!

PamT

PS: Speaking of new beginnings....have you read The Inheritance yet?

The Inheritance is about the chance we all long for...the chance to start over and it's available in Ebook and Print!