#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jamila Battle

Good Morning!

Well here we are....hosting our last Saturday Spotlight in 2016. Today's guest is not new. Jamila Battle has shared Treasures and Thoughts with us within the last couple of months and today we're getting a closer look into her book, From Abuse to Abundance....

My dad was a talented and charismatic jazz musician, who everyone loved. On the outside, my family’s life looked perfect. But what many didn’t realize is that we actually lived in a prison. The windows to our home had metal bars that were designed to keep me, my mother, brother and little sister caged in, along with our family’s deepest darkest secrets. Bars on the windows, the phones were tapped. We shared our house with rats and bats.

It wasn’t uncommon for me to be bound with duct tape and beaten with wire. I witnessed my mom get brutally beaten to a pulp and tied-up as my father smeared a dead rat over her limp body, to terrify her.

Enduring child abuse led to many other problems for me. After my abusive father fired a partially loaded gun at my head on a thankfully empty chamber, followed by his attempt to rape me, I finally called for help. I was removed from my home and was placed in one toxic foster home after another.

Although I escaped 14 years of childhood abuse, it followed me and sapped my joy and creativity.

Decades later, I realized two things

1.As a kid, I became an expert at living with abuse and addiction, hiding it, ignoring it and trying to cope with it on my own

2.As an adult, I later became a doctor and realized the importance of reaching out and discovered a great desire to help others overcome their pain of abuse and addiction to become happy, productive, healthy and drug free.

It was therapeutic to write and share my truth and the intimate bleeding story of what was going on in my head in hopes that others will better understand what they are going thru and those that they love.

My confessions have resonated with others facing similar emotional challenges and thus may give them hope and encouragement that they, too, can change their lives for the better. It is one of my deepest wishes to provide perspective for those who are suffering from trauma to help them create meaning and a new life.

Many struggle to speak their truth and paint the picture of what past memories are embed in their hearts. I want to help those bound by trauma turn their pain into promise and purpose thru confession, compassion, love and forgiveness by giving them a voice.

My determination to overcome it, the struggle with long-term effects of abuse, and finally getting my life of abundance, speaks volumes to the resilience of the human spirit to overcome tragedy. Now as a doctor, witnessing these terrible effects in our society, I have committed myself to do everything I can to lift and help repair those people.

Partly to heal myself and partly because I realized my mission, I focused my practice on the 4 pillars of health: sleep, diet and exercise, addiction and meditation.

It is my mission to not only increase functional awareness about abuse and addiction for those who suffer in silence by giving them a voice, but also raise this awareness for helping professionals, educators and parents.

Join me as I take you on a journey of Reboot, Repair, Rebirth, through this #1 Amazon Bestselling Book and healing guide, from Abuse to Abundance…

Dr. Jamila Battle's heroic journey from debilitating childhood violence and abuse to attending some of the finest institutions in our country and becoming a renowned physician is nothing short of miraculous. Her tenacious perseverance has been marked by depression and breakdown, yet she still rose to triumph, and created a narrative to guide those who wish to take control of their own destiny.

Dr. Battle, is an award winning triple board certified physician, author, speaker and creator of "Reboot, Repair, Rebirth®". This innovative model aids those who are suffering to forgive themselves, so they can become fully integrated and capable of self-love. Reboot your soul by speaking your truth and ending the isolation. Repair by getting help and consciously healing your mind, heart and body. Celebrate your Rebirth as a wiser, loving and centered being. Live life abundantly. Visit www.drjbattle.com to learn more.

 
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll return next week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights.

Here's wishing you and yours the utmost of luck and God's blessings for a prosperous 2017!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

Special Spotlight: Annie's Heart by Barbara Edwards

Good Morning Friends,

Yesterday I mentioned that my scheduled guest was unable to visit due to a family emergency. Well, she may not be able to get here today either but I'm posting her book info anyway because she's giving YOU the opportunity to read this book FREE!

Annie’s Heart was the result of a dream I had about living on the Kansas plains after the Civil War ended. I researched the area and found the hardships settlers faced to be overwhelming. I was surprised so many not only survived, but thrived. Annie is a strong woman with too many problems, but she is a survivor.
I hope you take this opportunity to read about her.

Blurb:
Only two coins and a gold pendant heart separate widowed ANNIE MOSS from disaster. The fields need to be plowed, the barn repaired and food stored for the winter, but she is alone and afraid. Her dream of a home for her children hangs from the promise of a wandering man to keep moving on, a man she has no reason to trust.

TRACE RANDOLPH has lost everything except his honor, so when a desperate ANNIE saves his life he knows he must pay his debt, even if it means marrying her. The only promise he makes is to leave before the winter snows. A promise he finds impossible to keep.

Excerpt:
Trace wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and hefted another bundle of shingles onto his shoulder. The sweat dripped off him and he knew he smelled like an old goat. He wondered if Annie had noticed, or if he were the only one suffering from this itch. His mouth was parched and he made a note to purchase more mints when he visited town. A blister burned on his heel. And work shoes. His high-heeled boots weren’t designed for doing farm chores.

He planned on taking a quick dip in the creek later to wash away his ripe odor. The scent of lavender, light and delicate as the woman herself, filled his head. Annie stood behind him. He turned. She smiled and held out a dripping glass of water. Nodding his thanks, he swallowed the drink with pleasure. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and her blue eyes flicked from his fingers to his mouth.

"When do you expect to be done?"

A longing to touch her seared him like a hot poker. Trace jerked his gaze from her mouth to eye the rising sun and gathering clouds. He gauged the daylight hours left.

"Maybe by tonight. It looks like rain, and I hope to have it completed so you won’t be inconvenienced again."

Her fingers trembled slightly when she held out her hand for the empty glass. His gaze darted to her face. She blushed at his bold stare and stepped back.

"I’m sure I never implied--"

"No, you didn’t, but I have eyes in my head. You need your privacy. I intend to get Digger’s bunk ready as well as my own."

She blushed a color reminiscent of the climbing roses in his mother’s garden. He realized she was embarrassed by his reference to sleeping arrangements. He was enchanted by her sweet reaction. A woman so innocent shouldn’t be the mother of two children.

Her gaze dropped to the ground as she hugged the glass to her breasts. The dripping condensation soaked into the fabric. She didn’t notice the wet material clinging to her soft outline, but he did. Heat pulsed low in his groin. He longed to trace the outline of dampness with his mouth.

"I need to go into town. Would you like to come?" Trace didn’t know where the suggestion sprang from, but Annie’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, then dimmed.

"But we have chores to…"

"Let Digger do them," he interrupted.

She hesitated. Cackling laughter followed by a whoop of excitement broke the silence stretching between them. Annie gave him a shaky nod before heading back toward the house.

Trace cursed under his breath as he watched the sweet sway of her hips when she climbed the shallow steps to the porch. Annie was soft and curvy in all the right places. She cast him a quick glance before darting inside.

Review:
”... Barbara Edwards creates a romance that proves life is about surviving disaster. Growing back stronger, and most of all, the courage to love." **** (four stars), Gerry Benninger, Romantic Times Magazine

Sounds like a great book! Get your FREE copy by filling out the form at WingsEpress or purchase your copy from the Publisher or Amazon.

 I’m Barbara Edwards and a native New Englander. I’m a graduate of the University of Hartford with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. I write poetry for myself and novels when I need to tell a longer tale. I’m fascinated by the past so naturally turned to writing historical romance. The dark paranormal stories evolve from nightmares. The romance comes from my belief in people’s basic goodness and longing for love. 

I lived in Florida for several years and am past president of the Central Florida Romance Writers and a member of Romance Writers of America.

When I returned to Connecticut, I founded the Charter Oak Romance Writers, a Chapter of Romance Writers of America, along with several close friends 

 My husband is a retired Police Sergeant. We share an interest Civil War re-enacting and travel the Eastern states to participate in events. I love visiting museums, galleries and battle sites, gathering information for my stories.

I taught Romance Writing at Manchester Community college for three years.

I’m fond of gardening and growing antique roses with limited success. 

Most of my exercise is when my Belgian Shepherd, Keeno, demands a walk.

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

 blog: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

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

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

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

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

Thanks for your support of this "special spotlight" our normal Saturday Spotlight will be up tomorrow and of course, we'll start 2017 next week with more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights. 

Meanwhile....PLEASE keep Barbara and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this most tragic time.....

#ThursdayThoughts ... And the Winners Are...

Good Morning and Welcome to the LAST Thursday Thoughts of 2016!

My scheduled guest had a family emergency. Please pray for Barbara and her family....THANKS!

I'm fighting my first (and hopefully only) cold of the season. UGH but want to give a shout-out to everyone who followed Keri's Christmas Wish blog tour and entered the contest.

I appreciate you ALL more than words can express.

Want to congratulate the winners ....

Jenna Schirm Massman
Linda Moffett
Kelly Schmidt
Laurette Pettit
Taylor Richard
Donna Young
Liz McNee
BN 100
Elaine Breault
Glenda Hislop

Thanks again to ALL who participated!

Hope you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Christmas Memories to Treasure!

Good Morning!

Well Christmas is over and the New Year is less than a week away. What better treasures to share than Christmas Memories....

 My daughter and son-in-law opened their brand new home and cooked our Christmas dinner.....Such a lovely gesture. I remember when we had these celebrations at my house but as with most families, changes happen, loved ones go to be with the Lord and the younger generation starts hosting these celebrations.

 Who says family is always blood? One of the best gifts was a surprise visit from our 'extended family' from Henrietta, TX!

Hail, hail the gang's all here!

My dad, my honey, my children, grandchildren and our extended family!

And my most favorite...me, my daughter and my son.....

I AM incredibly Blessed!

Hope your Christmas was merry and bright and your New Year is Blessed beyond measure!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope to see you later in the week (and each week) for Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlight and Tuesday Treasures!

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Linda J Burson

Merry Christmas!

This photo says it all.....

No matter who you are are where you're at I pray your Christmas is Blessed!

We have a brand new (to me/us) author visiting so please welcome, Linda J Burson....

Linda is an author from Connecticut.

After years of writing and editing for others, raising a family, and over twenty years of running her own businesses, Linda decided to tackle her first fiction novel entitled Rage, which began as a single book. Eventually, the novel became a trilogy, and finally a much longer series. All the books are a part of The Marcy Series, a romantic suspense series.

Find out more about Linda at Facebook, Instagram her Website Goodreads her Amazon Author Page & Twitter: @lindaburson23

Now let's find out about Linda's book....

Marcy and Brad’s marriage is back on track even with the major changes at play.

A new wedding is planned for New Year’s Eve. This wedding is a complete surprise to everyone, and an unexpected pregnancy may interfere.

The men in Marcy’s life become even closer, and a true bond is formed.

A Short, but Telling, Excerpt:

The tears are pouring down my cheeks. I can’t believe this. This man was in  love with me from the moment he saw me, and he knew nothing about me.

I understand it because I seemed to feel a sense about him from the beginning. I let him in my home late at night, a perfect stranger, but I felt it was all right. It’s like my soul was speaking to me as well. Maybe I’m as crazy as he is.

What I don’t understand is if we were meant to be together, why did I meet Brad? Why am I in love with two men? I’m so confused. No wonder he doesn’t mind coming here and staying. This place is his sanctuary. It’s our place…a place where no one can take me away from him.

More about The Marcy Series

The Marcy Series, which at this point includes: Rage, Confusion, Agony & Ecstasy, The Agreement, and Out of the Past, is a continuing story. It is a story about three people in particular and how their lives intertwine. There are many other characters involved with these three, but the focus remains on them throughout the entire series. It is an easy read, but it can be intense, as well as light-hearted. It is a love story, with a thriller/suspense aspect to it.

The story begins with our protagonist, Marcy Jensen, an independent, stubborn young woman, who runs her own bakery and coffee business. You find her full of rage and behaving irrationally. If you’ve ever experienced this type of anger, you may relate to Marcy and her problems; if not, you may not understand her. If this is the case, try to picture a moment in your life when you were the angriest that you can remember, and multiply it times a hundred. Maybe then you’ll have an idea of what this young woman is experiencing.

 As the series continues, you come to learn more and more about Marcy’s life and why she behaves the way she does. Eventually, you meet her love interests, Brad Preston, a hard-working financial genius who works in the banking industry, and Liam Brooks, a retired ex-military hero who  understands Marcy’s anger better than anyone, and helps her deal with it by having her help him get revenge. Throw in their friends and family and you have a story of three people whose lives are confusing, intense, and passionate, but loving, warm, and lively as well.

This story is fiction, but there’s more realism to it than most of you may know. Hopefully, though, whether it touches you in a familiar way, or is completely out of your realm, I hope it takes you where you’re supposed to go—to another time and place and into other’s lives. I hope it brings you an escape for as long as you’re reading, and gives you what it gave me…a satisfying ending and closure after spending many hours with my favorite people: Marcy, Liam, Brad, and their friends and family--even when they annoyed me, made me laugh, cry, or roll my eyes.

There are currently six novels in the series.

Wow...sounds like a great series, Linda! The books are published by Class Act Books and you can find each at the following links...

Rage: https://www.amazon.com/Rage-Linda-Burson/dp/193870374X/

Confusion: https://www.amazon.com/Confusion-Marcy-2-Linda-Burson/dp/1938703782/

Agony and Ecstasy: https://www.amazon.com/Agony-Ecstasy-Marcy-Linda-Burson/dp/193870388X/

The Agreement: https://www.amazon.com/Agreement-Marcy-Book-4-ebook/dp/B01IG982NS/

The Past Returns: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYMGCH5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479186993&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Past+Returns+by+Linda+Burson

Also available at the publisher’s website: www.classactbooks.com

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight! See you next week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course, another Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Random Ramblings on R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Well Folks today is another of those random rambling days but today I DO have something to ramble about.....

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

We all know the song..."Find out what it means to me."

Personally I believe respect for others begins with SELF respect.

What am I rambling about, you ask.....

How can you respect anyone if you don't respect yourself?

If you have no pride in what you do or where you live or how you dress or conduct business?

Even if you DON'T respect yourself, it's not hard to respect others.

Here's a few ideas....

#1: Pick up after yourself (especially important living in a someone else's house!). Also important if you knock down something in a store, or a piece of clothing falls off the hanger as you put it back. Been trying on clothes? It may be OK to leave them in the dressing room, but PLEASE, not in a pile on the floor! Fold them neatly and leave them on the bench or chair or put them back on the hanger and the hanger on the hook!

I know people get paid to do this, but seriously folks....do you treat YOUR clothing that way?

#2: Turn off lights and make sure the doors are closed when you leave a room or house. This one is a given...right? Not necessarily, you'd be surprised at how many people 'forget' these simple basic manners.

#3: Respect your (and other people's) Time! Be on time or early but not late. Now I know things happen that are unavoidable and those instances are OK, but being habitually late is NOT Ok. It is rude and disrespectful of everyone else involved. If possible you should call or text the person who is waiting on you to let them know you're going to be late.

#4: Respect the silence. Turn your radio (or telephone, or alarm) down! Not everyone wants to hear the loud, banging noise or feel their car vibrate to YOUR music or hear your TV blaring all night or your alarm going off for 5 or 10 minutes and you not rousing enough to turn it off (and no, don't just hit the snooze button a million times - turn the darn thing off!) Why set it for 2 hours before you plan on getting out of bed anyway? UGH

#5: Be nice.... it's REALLY that simple. Just. Be. Nice. And. POLITE in your thoughts and in your words.

Not always easy I know, sometimes we bite our tongue but as our mamas and grandmothers used to say.... "If you can't say something nice, keep your mouth shut."

CONFESSION: I have to remind myself of this often.

#6: Be gracious, grateful and forgiving. Say please and Thank you. Show kindness and compassion wherever you go and to whomever you meet. No one is perfect and you don't know what someone may be going through.

#7: Respect boundaries. I'm not talking fences. Privacy, personal space, things told to you in confidence, and decisions of others are all forms of boundaries we should do our best not to cross.

If you've known me long or followed my blog you know I write with the aim of encouraging and uplifting. Today's post may not seem that way, but truly, if you think about it, should everyone practice these simple steps or keep in mind one word: Kindness, this world (over populated, crowded world) would be a much nicer and safer place.

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

Hope you enjoyed today's post and you'll return each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

PS: Today is the LAST Day to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win Keri's Christmas Wish! Details HERE.

#TuesdayTreasures AHA Featured Author, Margo Bond Collins

Good Morning Friends,

I've mentioned before I belong to a couple of promo groups, both called AHA (Authors Helping Authors). One of the groups does the EggCerpt Exchange, Romantic Fall Travels and other such blog hops. The other group, has recently (just this month), implemented a "Featured Author" event. In fact, on Dec. 10th I spotlighted Nicloe Fitton as my first AHA Featured Author guest. Well today I'm pleased to bring you my 2nd AHA Featured Author guest, Margo Bond Collins....

A princess locked away in an ice tower. 

A handsome kidnapper who insists her savior-queen is a liar. 

And a chance to break the curse that binds them all.

Jayla Storm woke up next to a dead body, with no memory of how it got there. Then Kip Stanton blew up her ice tower—the only home she’s ever known—and kidnapped her, insisting it was for her own good. 

 ow she's stuck with a group of rebels hell-bent on usurping the queen who saved Jayla's life. As her memories resurface, she's afraid to trust anyone, even while her feelings for Kip grow stronger. 

But wherever Jayla goes, the monstrous ravagers follow. If she's going to survive, and perhaps save Kip and the others, she'll have to learn to trust someone—maybe especially herself.

Immortal Winter, a stand-alone dystopian paranormal romance  

by New York Times bestselling authors N.R. Larry and Margo Bond Collins

Excerpt:

I woke in my ice tower, covered in a coating of sweat, lying next to a dead body.

With a gasp, I scrambled back against the headboard of my own bed. Other than the motionless figure beside me, nothing around me had changed, though it was tinted yellow from the flickering lanterns.

Arina’s dead body?

I’d never seen a corpse. Not a real one. I eyed the spike sticking out of her forehead and the odd snarl twisting her open mouth. My head swam and I swallowed convulsively.

I knew I needed to act, but all I could manage to do was let Arina continue to bleed out—onto the sheets and onto me. I should have been screaming. I should have been throwing myself off the bed and toward the window. But I didn’t, anchored in place by fire and sweat and blood.

I tried to connect the scene in front of me to some memory, something that swam barely out of reach. I stretched after it, catching a fragment: yesterday was Arina's day. The day I wouldn't be alone.

A pain day.

I looked forward to those. That much I knew.

Forcing myself to sit up, I scooted away from her still form, my jaw clenched with the memory of pain. I would have laughed at what lingered but there was a body to attend to. Stumbling out of bed, I stepped out of my clothes and limped toward my ivory dresser. On the way, my feet grazed against something rough. Some imperfection in the ice. Something that wasn’t there before.

I backed up and stared down at the message scratched into the ice, blood swiped across it to highlight the letters, like ink rubbed on a seal impression to darken the image.

She found me. She knows. Went to warn them. Don’t take the infusions. Watch out for Kip.

My body began to tremble, even before my mind caught up.

Yesterday.

***

Wow Margo....this book definitely sounds like something to treasure!

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll stop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

PS: Don't forget to follow Keri's Christmas Wish blog tour and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win 1 of 10 copies of the book (only 3 days left) !!

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Juanita Aydlette & It's in the Blood

Good Morning Friends!

Today we welcome Juanita Aydlette back with a peek into her book, It's in the Blood....

Never stare at a shirtless hunk with green eyes. Gabrielle Madsen is drawn in by such a pair of eyes that captures her soul and leaves her a prisoner of an addictive kind of love--not that she's complaining. But her educational trip turns out to be more than just a fun-filled summer escapade.

She’s faced with a life-changing decision that could affect the world around her. Her discovery of this ancient, legend-come-to-life proves to be deadly, but her heart can’t break away. She and Josh Van Ness fall in love and must battle the forces that want to keep them apart.

EXCERPT:

Away from the open menagerie was a path surrounded by dense trees. It was across a narrow decorative bridge built into the landscape. The thick greenery provided a shady side to the open garden. A spotlight created by the sun beckoned to me from inside and I walked away from the others. My eyes were fixed on the pink and red groundcover that glimmered with a hypnotic seduction. I ventured toward the fragrant breeze, unaware of how far I had strayed.

After only a few yards inside the cover of the trees, my body was seized again by a rumble and a frightening snarl. A chill blanketed me and I couldn’t move. I didn’t dare look around, for the back of my blouse had already been saturated by the heated moisture from the breath of the beast. My first instinct was to scream, but fear had stolen my voice. So I took a deep breath and held it. The scent of horror filled my lungs. It was familiar. Was I being stalked by the animal that lurked outside my hotel grounds?

Help me please, rang inside my head. My eyes squeezed shut as its sharp fangs pinched my shoulder. Tears filled my eyes and my hands formed a fist. I waited to feel my bones snap when suddenly, it let go. The leaves crunched. The sound grew fainter by the second, then nothing. My eyes remained closed as I trembled and listened.

“Miss?” A woman’s voice severed my nightmare. “I saw you come out here. We’re getting ready to go to another area. You don’t want to be left behind.”

Without hesitation I ran past her, clutching my throat and sobbing. The other tourists were boarding the van and I made my way to the back. The woman I believed saved me from certain death, came and sat beside me.

“Hi. My name is Kara. Are you okay?” She placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Did you see anything?” I searched her eyes for a confirmation. “An animal? It was behind me.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see anything,” she said and smiled.

“Was it a spider?” the little lady with the blinding yellow blouse asked.

“No. Never mind, Kara. I guess I’m just tired. Thank you for checking on me.”

“You’re welcome, you take care.” She quickly returned to her seat.

My body trembled as the bus came to stop. I ran from the tourist center to the hotel. Once inside the bathroom, I stripped and examined my shoulder. A painful bruise was both in front and in back. I cried out loud, shook convulsively, and then laughed hysterically. Was I going mad?

It's in the Blood is published by Class Act Books. Purchase it from the publisher's website, Amazon or Smashwords!

Juanita Aydlette is from Shreveport, Louisiana, and now lives in Texas.  She’s the only girl in a family of four brothers. She love music, planting flowers and is a dog lover…that’s why she works at an animal clinic.

Find out more about Juanita at:

http://thesouloffiction.com/

https://www.facebook.com/juanita.aydlette

https://www.facebook.com/Class-Act-Books-279355422086332/?fref=ts

Twitter: @Juanita Aydlette

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight. See you next week for another round of Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until then, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Random Ramblings on DeCluttering

Good Morning!

I have no idea what to talk about today so I'm just going to start typing and see what comes out....

When scrolling through my downloads folder I'm amazed at the number of files I need to delete. Have no idea when I'm going to do that but I would love to start 2017 with a clean slate.

How many of us feel that way about some are in our lives?

Maybe more than one area?

Well now is the time to take baby steps in getting rid of clutter...in our home, in our heart and in our work.

Here's a few ideas on how to do this:

Start Small. Just like with any project, it's better to do a little each day and work toward a particular goal than to go hard at it, trying to do too many things all at once and burn yourself out.

Make a List. Lists can be your best friend, especially when you scratch things off of it.

Celebrate Your Accomplishments. Finish one room, closet. dresser or file folder? Take time to congratulate yourself and feel good about your accomplishment instead of beating yourself up over what you have left to do.

Take a Break.  Even if only a day or two, taking a break between tasks helps you keep things in perspective and helps avoid overwhelm.

Relax, Pray, Meditate. This goes without saying if your life is "too busy" you need to take time out to relax, pray and meditate. Even if only 5 minutes a couple times each day. Nothing makes a busy life less hectic.

These are just a few ideas for decluttering your life. I'd love for you to share YOUR ideas and I hope you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by Diana Rubino

Good Morning Friends!

Well we are exactly 12 days away from Christmas...yeah, I know. I'm not ready either. Not a big shopper so as usual, I'll get it all done in the next few days. Anyway, today we welcome Diana Rubino back to our blog to share something she treasures with us.

My “Treasure”

To celebrate the publication of THE JEWELS OF WARWICK, which was my first historical novel, and my husband Chris's and my 15th anniversary, I had this ring made for me by John Reynolds of Goldsmiths 3 in Concord, Massachusetts. The center stone is a purple sapphire, the two surrounding stones are pink topaz, and next to them are diamonds. It's set in 18K rose gold.

The significance of the purple and the sapphires is that JEWELS has two heroines who are sisters, Amethyst and Topaz, in Henry VIII’s court. Also, sapphire is my birthstone, and I was happy to see that sapphires also come in purple!

Wow, Diana, something this unique and beautiful is definitely something to treasure!

Henry VIII had six wives and many more mistresses, but Amethyst of Warwick was the love of his life. So why didn’t he ever marry her? He was either married, or she was married—to a despicable old wretch he foisted upon her as a punishment.

The other Jewel of Warwick is Amethyst’s sister Topaz, a spitfire who makes his live a living hell, only because she’s trying to seize his throne. She has a credible reason—Henry’s father killed her father, a rightful heir to the throne, to get him out of the way. As the Jewels grew up without their father, Topaz mourned his wasted life. Now she wants what’s rightfully hers. 

Amethyst remains a faithful supporter, confidante, lover, and friend, through Henry's tragic marriages and England's break with Rome. 

Until the night Henry dies in her arms, she is torn between her love for him and for her sister. Amethyst’s devotion to Henry creates a painful rift between the sisters that remains unresolved until the story’s end. While Amethyst lives a comfortable but troublesome life at court as the king's mistress, Topaz raises an army and goes into battle with the king. Forced to defend his crown, he imprisons Topaz for treason. Amethyst begs the king to release her, but he dies while she's still imprisoned. 

  

Henry's heir, young King Edward, sets Topaz free, but banishes her to the New World. She embarks on a voyage with explorer Sebastian Cabot, hoping to colonize her own monarch free realm, in what will someday be New England.

Excerpt

"I must marry Anne.” He spoke so low she could barely hear him. “She believes she is with child." 

“Oh, no.” Amethyst shook her head. King Henry’s gemstones flew from side to side in a dazzling blur. “No...no, it can't be...Anne Boleyn is a liar!” She grabbed his arms and shook him, abandoning all protocol, all etiquette, all manners. “Why must you marry her? You bedded her and after making me wait all this time, now you are going to turn round and marry her?”

Henry jerked out of her grasp. “You ran away, you silly wench. What was I to do, live like a monk, the way Catherine wants?” He took a few paces to the table and picked up a goblet. “The only reason I turned to her was because you'd left, without so much as a word.” He took a long pull of the ale and replaced the goblet with a thunk. “I do not love Anne. She is merely a breeding mare, more than willing to give me an heir, which you did not have the patience to stay around and do.” His eyes narrowed at her. “My divorce is finally in sight, you know how badly I need an heir, and you couldn't wait another few months.” He swept his hand through the air. “No, you had to come running back to home and hearth, back to the castle, expecting me to come back to you, begging on bended knee. A king does not beg.” His eyes narrowed to beady slits. “I have come to tell you I want you to return to court. I am admitting what you so desperately want me to admit. I want you back there with me. That is why I journeyed here. To bring you back.” 

Her wish, her prayer, now answered after all this time…but now it hit her like an insult. “To play second fiddle to the night crow? After you asked me to be your queen? What kind of fool do you take me for? You no longer love me.” She placed a fist on her hip. You want me under your thumb so you can keep me as a spare for when Anne gets too swollen and ugly for you to bed.” She turned away, unable to look at him. 

“Holy Jesu, Amethyst, would I have left court and the future mother of my heir if I did not love you?” 

“At this point I don’t know what to believe.” Her fists now clenched before her, she wished she could strangle that harlot he’d bedded.  

“How dare you refuse me.” Henry strode to the door and flung it open. “I shall give you until tomorrow, when my retinue and I leave. If you have not agreed to come back with me, do not ever return to court again.” 

At the door he dismissed her with the same wave of his arm befitting his servants. She left, not in obedience to him, but because she no longer wanted to see his face. The thought of him bedding Anne Boleyn sickened her.  

Purchase THE JEWELS OF WARWICK

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About Diana: My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. I live on Cape Cod with my husband Chris. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre. 

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Hope you enjoyed today's treasure and that you'll stop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Nicole Fitton & Forbidden Colours!

Good Morning Friends,

Well it's been a full week since the blog tour for Keri's Christmas Wish started. I hope you've entered the Rafflecopter giveaway. If not, there's still time as the tour will last through Dec 22nd and today is featured on Marilyn Leach's blog.

Enough about my book though, because today I'm happy to share with you Forbidden Colours by fellow *AHA author, Nicole Fitton. But first, Nicole is going to tell us a little about how her book came into being....

Forbidden Colours was the evolution of a question that had been rattling around in my brain. You know, those annoying questions that wake you at 4am and won’t let you rest until you’ve written something. Well, that’s how it was for me. I had read a newspaper article about the complexity of the human brain and well, it all started from there.

Forbidden Colours is a gripping love story which contains elements of psychological suspense. It contains enough adrenaline fuelled drama to power the national grid! Once I had the protagonist Midori Yates firmly fixed in my mind's eye she took charge and dictated the direction of travel. I have a passion for science and being able to incorporate that into a book is very exciting. The story centres around a new drug being brought to market that does not quite do what it is supposed to…. I shall leave it at that.

As I said earlier I started Forbidden Colours with a question and everything flowed from there. So, I know you want to know, what was the question? It’s a question I often ask myself but seldom has it led me in such an unusual direction…... ‘ What if?’

Blurb: What if your memories were not your memories? What if the drug hailed as a cure became a curse and ultimately your destruction?

Midori Yates works for pharmaceutical giant KLD. The launch of new drug Centoria has revolutionised the treatment of amnesia, with outstanding results. Trials exploring its use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s are on the horizon. But is it really as good as the data suggests?

Neurologist Dr. Nick Campbell has seen amazing results with his patients and is ready to believe in Centoria’s transformational abilities…that is until his patients start displaying strange and worrying symptoms with drastic results. Determined to uncover the truth, Midori and Nick find a conspiracy that is to have devastating consequences for both of them. A dark world threatens to engulf them. Can they survive?

Snippet:
Katzuko Yates eyed her daughter thoughtfully. A sense of apprehension gripped her. Those years in Japan were long ago; she wondered if she could be clear with her explanation. Even though buried, her memories continued to breathe under the mountain of life she'd lived. Dare she even speak of them? Could she speak of them? Their place of residence had become an unmarked grave in her history. Her family had a right to know, after everything that had happened. His world was dark and full of shadows; where would she begin? For over 25 years she had told no one. Now she was being drawn back into his world. It was a time she wanted to forget. The tie that had been bound to her so tightly was about to be broken.

Wow...what a concept Nicole! Don't 'cha just LOVE that cover?

You can purchase Forbidden Colours HERE.

Now let's find out a little more about Nicole.....

Nicole Fitton is an author and freelance writer who has lived in such glamorous locations as London, New York and Croydon! She currently reside in Devon, UK with her family.

Forbidden Colours is her second novel. Her career has spanned over 3 decades working in PR and marketing within the music industry. She currently works within healthcare in the UK.

Alongside her novels Nicole has a passion for writing short stories.This year has seen her short ‘Soaring’ featured in an anthology by the Black Pear Press. Her stories always have a happy ending, but, the way in which they get there will keep you guessing right up until the last page!

She admits she gets bored easily and can often be found enjoying new adventures!

Connect with Nicole at the following places....

Website address: https://www.nicolefittonauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolefittonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MisoMiss
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/fitton3818/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nicole-Fitton/e/B01A3NSIL6/

Well friends, hope you enjoyed today's Spotlight and that you return each week for another round of Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

*AHA is a promo group I belong to*