#ThursdayThoughts West Coast Vacation #3

Good Morning and Welcome!

Today we're leaving Placerville, CA headed to Red Bluff to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park.

On the 17th I shared with you the Texas leg of our trip, then on the 20th, New Mexico. Today I'd like to share Arizona with you!

We left TX and drove to Flagstaff, AZ, passing through the Painted Desert. 

Although that was lovely, I found the Artists Drive in Death Valley much more beautiful - I'll share pics from there later! Now let's get back to Arizona....

We stayed in Flagstaff for two reasons....Grand Canyon and Sedona. Here are some pics from the Grand Canyon.

I'm not real good with selfies, but here are a couple with the Canyon behind/below me....

I don't have any from Sedona but you can see those I took a couple of years ago when I went there with my niece HERE.

I must say, the Grand Canyon is one of our greatest treasures as are all of the National Parks and IMHO, if anyone can stand on the edge of this precipice and not be overwhelmed at the grace and beauty of our earth....well, I just don't see how anyone can not be overwhelmed!

Anyway, that's the AZ leg of our west coast vacation. Next we'll visit California and there's LOTS to share from that state alone so be sure and 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 Nikola Dimitrov

Good Morning!

Well, we leave Coarsegold, CA & Yosemite National Park today, heading for Red Bluff and Lassen Volcanic National Park. I'll be sharing another update on my West Coast Vacation on Thursday and then at least once a week in July until I've shown you some of what I'm experiencing on this extended road trip.

Meanwhile, please welcome Nikola Dimitrov to our blog. He is a new-to-me author brought to us by PrimeStar Publicity.

In 1992 Nikola Dimitrov experienced a miraculous conversion, receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Since 1995 he has been a full-time minister of the Gospel, serving as pastor, Bible teacher, preacher, and Christian educator. He started his first church in 1994, which is still standing today, and in 1998 he began his traveling ministry. Nikola is currently pastoring several church groups in Bourgas, Bulgaria and is frequently sought out as a speaker around the country. He also serves as a Bible teacher at the Apostolic Kingdom Institute in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

As editor-in-chief of Vetil Media Ministry, Nikola has translated and published more than thirty books into Bulgarian, as well as writing some himself. He then encourages his congregations to take responsibility in word and deed toward that end. As a translator, Nikola has also produced and distributed around the nation nearly 1000 Bulgarian versions of audio and video teachings by famous foreign preachers and teachers.

As part of a charity in Bulgaria, along with other volunteers, Nikola takes care of needy people from the minorities, distributing clothes, food, medicine, and school materials to children.

Nikola is married to Helen, and they have two lovely young-adult daughters, Annie (which means grace) and Mikaela (which means who is like God?). Both are part of Nikola and Helen’s ministry, serving in the area of music.

Let's see what Nikola has to treasure.....

Hey, guys,

 

I’d like to justify the title of my book: “The Four in One Gospel of Jesus”. The Rabbi Rev. Eric Walker, when interviewing me, made a very good point: There are not 4 gospels, when You consider the meaning of the word Gospel (Good news). There’s only one Good News, and that is the fact that there is a new King of kings and Lord of lords - Jesus. So, the 4 gospels are actually one Gospel of our King and Lord. 

 

It’s interesting how many Christians associate the Gospel only with Salvation (going to Heaven when we die), when the Bible, in every single place, talking about the Gospel, calls it: The Gospel of the Kingdom. Yes, there is Salvation, Healing, Deliverance, Protection, Provision and Victory in Jesus, but these are all by-products of the fact that the Good News are the Good News of the King Jesus and His Kingdom, HERE and NOW. Check out for Yourselves:

 

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. - Matthew 4:23 (The preaching of the King and His Kingdom brought healing and deliverance in the Present)

 

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. - Matthew 9:35

 

And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. - Luke 4:43 (This seemed to be Jesus’ calling and…

 

…Our mission is pretty much the same - to proclaim that there is a New king of kings in our world:

 

- Jesus, not Mammon (deceitfulness of riches, secular cares and all kinds of other things)

- Jesus, not Pharaoh (bondage over the mind, spirit and body)

- Jesus, not Jezebel (perversion, adultery, fornication and corruption)

- Jesus, not Ahab (apathy, not assuming responsibility, lack of character and stamina)

- Jesus, not the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21, about which the Bible says that that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. It does not say that they will not be saved, but that they will not be effective for the Kingdom, e.g. will not be able to witness, heal, deliver and live victoriously.

- Jesus, not the devil, sin or idolatry. 

 

Still not convinced? Let’s see what the first century men of God would preach:

 

- John the Baptist: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near”

- Jesus: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near”

- The disciples sent by Jesus: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near”

- But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)

- And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8)

- And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,… (Acts 28:23)

 

There are so many more Bible Scriptures to back up my point, but I think the above are enough.

 

Why do I say all that? Because, to have a bird’s eye perspective on the life of Jesus - the King of the Kingdom, chronologically and contextually - will help us be more effective for Him. That’s what The Four in One Gospel of Jesus provides. 

 

God Bless You!

Wow....what amazing and wonderful truths to treasure, Nikola. Thanks for sharing!

Nikola's book The Four in One Gospels of Jesus can be purchased at Amazon!

Well friends, hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kryssie Fortune & Claimed by the Vampire, Seduced by the Werewolf

Good Morning from Coarsegold, CA - about 30 miles from Yosemtie National Park!

We keep going north but the temperatures are still in the triple digits! Hot, hot, hot!

Just like today's guest with her new release!

Kryssie has been in the spotlight before and she has shared thoughts and treasures with us, so you know she writes "hot, sexy" romance (aka: EROTIC) - although the excerpt she's sharing here is rated PG....anyway, let's find out about her newest release....

After seven centuries, Elias, a former Spartan turned vampire, finds his eternal bride.

Seth, Elias’s werewolf half-brother, scents his mate.

Vampire and werewolf loathe each other. The only thing they agree on is that Tempest is their mate--and they’re not sharing.

A prophecy will force Tempest, a twenty-first-century witch, to choose between them. As the half-brothers vie to win her heart, they teach her about spanking, the way pain heightens pleasure, and the joy of multiple orgasms.

A vampire can’t survive without his fated bride. A werewolf dies if he loses his mate. Their future rests in Tempest’s hands.

Which one will she choose?

Excerpt: Seth galloped into the ring. He looked every inch a medieval prince, with gleaming top boots and flowing velvet cloak. The crowd remembered his display earlier and cheered wildly. They fell silent when Elias marched into view. He wore a Spartan uniform straight from the film 300—scarlet cloak, bare chest, black shorts, and greaves on his legs. The blacksmith had even managed to turn the Roman helmet he’d been working into a Spartan helm. It fit Elias perfectly.

Looking at him stole Tempest’s breath from her lungs. Head high, cloak thrown back over his shoulders, Elias saluted the crowd. A quick glance at the audience, and she realized she wasn’t the only one who thought Elias was gorgeous. Lots of the ladies ogled his washboard abs. Then again, decked out in his medieval splendor, Seth also looked calm, commanding, and ready for battle. When he drew his sword and saluted the spectators, the crowd went wild.

Someone booed as Elias strode to the center of the arena. Furious, Tempest got back on the speaker system. “Everyone down the right flank, where our gallant medieval knight is now, you’re Team Seth. The rest of you are Team Elias. Come on, let me hear you shout.”

A child responded, her high-pitched voice carrying over the crowd. “Go, Seth, go!”

Slowly, one half of the crowd took up the chant.

A lone voice on the other side of the arena yelled, “Come on, Elias!”

• Note: While loosely linked to the Scattered Siblings series, this book may be read as a standalone story

Buy links
Loose id  https://app.bitly.com/BebnjNZnvC8/bitlinks/2pFyQ5Z
Amazon USA  http://amzn.to/2pLmmK4
Amazon UK  http://amzn.to/2pd1Hvt 
Kobo http://bit.ly/2qBMdl5
Barnes and Noble  http://bit.ly/2q36rI5

Kryssie Fortune writes the sort of hot sexy books she loves to read. If she can sneak a dragon into her paranormal books she will. Her paranormal heroes are muscular werewolves, arrogant Fae, or BDSM loving dragons. 

Kryssie likes her contemporary heroes ex-military and dominant. Her heroines are kick ass females who can hold their own against whatever life - or Kryssie - throws at them.

Kryssie's pet hates are unhappy endings, and a series that end on a cliff hanger.

Her books are all stand alone even when part of series. Plot always comes before sex, but when her heroines and heroes get together, the sex is explosive and explicit. One review called it downright sensual.

Media Links

Website  http://kryssiefortune.wixsite.com/kryssie

Blog  http://kryssiefortune.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter    https://twitter.com/KryssieFortune

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

Pinterest  http://bit.ly/1OGFnjc

Goodreads  http://bit.ly/2kxqabJ 

Amazon Author Page  http://amzn.to/2hA0ZVO

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with DiAnn Mills!

Good Morning from Lemon Cove, CA!

I'm running late with my post so won't take too much time talking about my trip. Suffice it to say AZ & CA are Hot, Hot, HOT with temps in the triple digits!

Today's guest has a career just as hot. 

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than 50 books in print, which have sold more than a million and a half copies and appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists.

DiAnn also won back-to-back Christy Awards in 2010 and 2011 for Breach of Trust and Sworn to Protect, the first two books in her Call of Duty series. Her online home is www.diannmills.com.

Now let's see what DiAnn has to share....

 4 Ways the FBI Assists Other Agencies

The FBI works with local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement to investigate and share information to help solve and prevent crime. Through the following services, they are an integral federal agency dedicated to the wellbeing of the United States and global allies.

“The most effective weapon against crime is cooperation…the efforts of all law enforcement agencies with the support and understanding of the American people.”  J. Edgar Hoover

In my new series, FBI Task Force, I needed accurate information as to how the FBI assists other agencies. The following came from my friend Shauna Dunlap, Special Agent/Media Coordinator for Houston’s FBI.

1. The FBI’s national and local Joint Terrorism Task Forces. (There are JTTF’s in each of the 56 field offices.) These small groups of agents do everything required to run down leads, train, gather intel, and everything in between.
2. Under the Attorney General Guidelines, the FBI is able to assist local, state and other federal partners investigating federal crimes or threats to national security. For example, the FBI assist’s other agencies investigating violent acts or mass killings as noted in federal law: 28, USC 530c 9b) (1) (M) (i).
3. Intelligence information sharing
4. Criminal justice information services

Isn’t it good to know that trained people are working together to keep us safe?

Yes it is, DiAnn! Now tell us a little about your new book, Deep Extraction

FBI Task Force, Book 2

A pacemaker should have saved oil and gas magnate Nathan Moore’s life. Instead, it provided his killer with a seemingly perfect means of execution.

A bombing at one of Nathan’s oil rigs days earlier indicates his death could be part of a bigger conspiracy, a web Special Agent Tori Templeton must untangle. But her first order of business is separating the personal from the professional—the victim’s wife, her best friend, is one of the FBI’s prime suspects.

Clearing Sally’s name may be the biggest challenge of her career, but Tori finds an unexpected ally in the newest member of the task force, recently reinstated Deputy US Marshal Cole Jeffers. As Tori and Cole dig deeper into Nathan’s personal and business affairs, they uncover more than they bargained for. And the closer they get to finding the real killer—and to each other—the more intent someone is on silencing them for good.


Click here to read an excerpt!

Thanks, DiAnn!

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures found in Santa Fe, NM - West Coast Vacation #2

Good Morning!

Saturday, I shared some vacation memories from the TX leg of our West Coast trip. Today I'd like to share treasures found in Santa Fe, NM....

Santa Fe is HUGE in the arts so if you love to look and shop and gaze at sculptures, paintings and museums - it's a mega treat for you.

I love art but not enough to spend hours traipsing about in the heat to simply gaze. However, I did get to visit 4 historic places....

               

 

#1: San Miguel Chapel....The Oldest church in the United States. Filled with history, it is still an active place of worship today.

                   

#2: Loretto Chapel....the church with the miraculous staircase. I tell you this was my favorite place despite the commercialism of it. They have an entire hotel, spa and other businesses attached and associated with the chapel, and it is definitely a stunning site. This statue of Jesus is absolutely breathtaking and His eyes truly reflect the love He has for you! No trip to Santa Fe is complete without visiting this gorgeous place of worship.

#3: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis is one of my favorite saints of all time. His Peace Prayer, is absolutely life changing. Everything about this cathedral was beyond description. Again, despite the commercialism of the place, you could really feel the presence of God and St. Francis in this holy place.

We also visited the DeVargas Street House (the oldest house in Santa Fe) and ate at Upper Crust Pizza.

All in all, our trip to Santa Fe was amazing and definitely memories to treasure! 

Next week I'll share some photos from Sedona and the Grand Canyon so please check back for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight West Coast Vacation #1

Good Morning From Flagstaff, AZ!

If you've followed me for long, you'll know I'm on a cross-country trek to (and along) the West coast. Since my guest couldn't be here today, I thought I'd share some of my vacation memories (so far) with you.....

Our journey began on Thursday, June 9th and started in Gordonville, TX at Cedar Mills Resort on Lake Texoma. Not a lot to do there, the wind blew all the time. Not a gentle breeze, but up to 25 mph with gusts even higher. However, we did see some beautiful sunrises. It was awesome to see the sun rising to the east while the moon still shone bright over the harbor.

Next stop was Amarillo, & Canyon, TX and Palo Duro Canyon!

Known as Texas' "best kept secret" Palo Duro Canyon is amazing. You're driving along the highway with nothing but farm land and wheat fields when all of a sudden you come upon a huge hole in the ground! Here are a few pics, but I can promise these don't do the beauty of this park justice.,,,There are numerous hiking trails, the views are spectacular, colors magnificent and TEXAS the outdoor musical drama breathtaking.

We did some hiking in the morning then drove into Amarillo to eat at the Big Texan Steak Ranch...home of the 72 oz steak! I'd heard a lot about this restaurant so we just had to eat there. The food was delicious and plentiful. There are a lot of neat things in this restaurant, some creepy ones too...but all in all, worth the trip. 

Eating at this historic restaurant was great but my favorite part of visiting Amarillo was the American Quarter Horse (AQHA) Hall of Fame and Museum!

This is a treat any horse lover would enjoy.

On Monday the 12th we left TX and visited Santa Fe / Pecos New Mexico. I'll be sharing photos from there later so be sure and drop by weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!  

And don't forget the Multi-Author Rafflecopter Giveaway of a Kindle Fire which ends in less than 2 weeks!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts on Change....

Good Morning from Santa Fe, New Mexico!

If you've visited often you know I've embarked on a 2 month trek across the US to make a loop up the West Coast, around the Midwest and back down to Louisiana. Saturday I'll be spotlighting some highlights from our trip so be sure and drop by.

Meanwhile, let's talk a little about change.....

Some people thrive on change. Others hate it. Many, like me understand change is a part of life and just learn to go with the flow.

Not all change is -or appears - good: death of loved ones or loss of job or health. Though these are some of the worst types of changes we can go through, life goes on and so must we.

Other changes are good! New job, new relationship, new home, new (fill in the blank). We love these types of changes although many begin with a not-so-good one.

Then there are changes that surprise and please and hopefully open new doors for us. These are the types of changes I absolutely LOVE. One such change is with my novel The Inheritance (published 2007 from The Wild Rose Press). We all know the story of how TWRP evolved to White Rose Publishing and then Pelican Book Group - these were all good changes. Now there's one even better!

PBG is re-issuing The Inheritance sometime later this year. The book has been edited, updated, revised and has a brand new cover! Don't 'cha just LOVE it? I do! It's still the same story, only better and hopefully this change will turn out to be good for everyone involved and will garner new readers.

On the heels of this news and my receiving the galley which I'm currently working to get back to the editor so we can get an actual release date....anyway, my lovely cover artist and friend, Delia Latham of Heaven's Touch Designs surprised me with a brand new cover for my Tempered Series bundle (boxed set)..... I can't wait to replace the current one with this!

These two changes started me thinking....Even though we're told not to, many people judge a book by it's cover therefore, a not-so-good cover can make or break a book. My novel, Circles of Fate has gotten great reviews yet the sales reflect poorly. So, Delia and I put our heads together and came up with a brand new cover for it too!

I love how Delia depicted the main characters in this romantic saga so well! Hopefully, this fresh, new and exciting cover will be more attractive to readers. It is certainly eye-catching.

These are all good changes, but even good changes have drawbacks....in these instances, lot's of work replacing the old covers with new in all publishing venues AND in all marketing materials. Hopefully our hard work will pay off and readers will reap the benefits as well, by being entertained, their faith strengthened by the triumph of these characters.

Moral of this post: Whether expected, unexpected, good or not....life continually changes and evolves. So must we.

Something to think about!

"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless!

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Judy Ann Davis!

Good Morning from Amarillo, TX!

We left Lake Texoma (Gordonville) yesterday and drove to Amarillo and to Palo Duro Canyon so we could see a performance of 'Texas'. I'll be sharing pics and details here on the blog later and on FB more often so be sure and find/like/follow me!

Meanwhile, Please welcome Judy Ann Davis back to our blog to share something she treasures with us....

MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY DNA

Treasures may be tangible or intangible. They can be held in the hand or simply stored in the mind. My treasure for today is stored in my mind.

Recently, I took the plunge and had my DNA tested. I knew all four of my grandparents emigrated from Poland to the United State shortly before or shortly after the 1900s. I found I was 98% East European/Polish and 2% Finnish. Though surprised by the 2%, I knew from research that the Finnish tribes were the first ones to settle the north Baltic coast of what is today called Poland.

Why my grandparents are a treasure is for their strength, stamina, and bravery to leave their homeland—and everything they owned—to undergo a perilous journey, not in the least comfortable, to a foreign country an ocean away. Then they had to find work, learn English, and become citizens.

Unfortunately, I never really knew three of my grandparents since they died when I was a small child. My paternal grandmother, Victoria, was only sixteen when she boarded a ship in 1906 to come to the U.S. where her sister was already located. Talk about fearless!

Both of my grandfathers worked the mines and owned farms. My Grandfather Lashinski bought a farm in Northeast Pennsylvania which my father and mother later purchased from him and where they raised my sister, brother and me.

It was on this bountiful farm where I scampered over acres of pastures, forests, and fields. A carefree child, I walked on stonewalls build by the Irish in the early 1800s. I splashed in the creek winding through our property, and I caught crayfish and minnows. I daydreamed. I stared at star-filled skies and wondered about the vastness of our universe. I smelled the sweet scent of dried hay, wild roses, and ripe blackberries. But most of all, I was always safe and never hungry--like many Poles left behind in the “Old Country.” History tell us they had to endure endless domination by other countries as well as the very sorrowful hardships of World War II where 2.7+ million perished.

Without my bold, risk-taking grandparents, I would not be the person I am today. I would never have experienced the wealth of opportunities that living in the United States afforded me. They are a treasure.

So if any of my grandparents are peering down from the heavens above, I’d like to shout out a “Thank you.” And I ask only one small favor: Can any of you tell me which side of the family the 2% Finnish comes from?

Check out Judy Ann’s latest novel:

FOUR WHITE ROSES

BLURB:
When widower Rich Redman returns to Pennsylvania with his young daughter to sell his deceased grandmother’s house, he discovers Grandmother Gertie’s final request was for him to find a missing relative and a stash of WWI jewels.

Torrie Larson, single mom, is trying to make her landscape center and flower arranging business succeed while attempting to save the lineage of a rare white rose brought from Austria in the 1900s.
Together, the rich Texas lawyer and poor landscape owner team up to rescue the last rose and fulfill a dead woman’s wishes. But in their search to discover answers to the mysteries plaguing them, will Rich and Torrie also discover love in each other’s arms? Or will a meddling ghost, a pompous banker, and an elusive stray cat get in their way?

AUTHOR BIO:

Judy Ann Davis holds a degree in Journalism and Communications and has written for industry and education throughout her career. She writes both short stories and contemporary and historical novels. When she’s not behind a computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are few. She is a member of Pennwriters, Inc. and Romance Writers of America, and divides her time between Central Pennsylvania and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Visit her on

Her blog: www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com

The Web: www.judyanndavis.com

Facebook: Judy Ann Davis Author

Twitter: @JudyAnnDavis4

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/judyanndavis44

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4353662.Judy_Ann_Davis

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Ann-Davis/e/B006GXN502/

How lovely, Judy! Your farm and memories are definitely something to treasure. Thanks for sharing!

Hope you enjoyed Judy's post as much as I did and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT 

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Theresa Lynn Hall & Ransom in Rio!

Good Morning from Lake Texoma!

As I've mentioned many times before, I love promoting authors and their books, but having a fellow PBG author is just the bomb!

Today I am so very excited for my guest, Theresa Lynn Hall who is in our spotlight with her brand new release, Ransom in Rio a Passport to Romance title from Pelican Book Group!

Please give her a great big WELCOME!

Private Investigator, Braden McCoy wants nothing more than to finish out the week doing a little fishing from his boat. The ex-special ops vet enjoys his peaceful life and loves his new career. He’s learned to put his past behind him and enjoy his blessings. Until a mourning redhead walks into his office and changes his plans.

Lexi Ramos always knew her family was dysfunctional. Until the sudden death of her brother, she never knew exactly how much. Consumed with questions surrounding his accident, she seeks the help of a private investigator. What starts out as a murder investigation in Cozumel, quickly crosses borders and escalates into a race against time to save them both from Brazilian kidnappers, who somehow know more about her family secrets than she does. Lexi soon realizes that life comes with a price.

Excerpt: 
Her worst nightmare had come to life.

Now, the fear of what she would do if it ever happened was over, but the loss of her brother came with a burden she hadn't foreseen. It left her to deal with her family alone. To carry the legacy. To protect the empire. To convince everyone to believe the lies.

“He was always so careful,” she muttered to herself as she drove.

Snow had started falling as the last “Amen” was said at the cemetery. The heavy white powder made the pale yellow lines on the road fade in and out of sight. Lexi tugged her sweater tighter around her body with one hand and gripped the steering wheel with the other. The funeral had drained her of what little emotional strength she had left. It was crazy, but several times throughout the day she'd found herself picking up her phone to see if Jace had messaged her. He used to text or call every day. Silly stuff sometimes, like never walk the dog with no shoes on. Once he'd texted that he had the hiccups.

“I just can't believe he’s gone.” Lexi glanced at her friend. She didn’t expect Kristy to say anything. Nothing she could say would make the pain go away.

Jace had been the perfect big brother, Lexi’s best friend. From an early age, they learned that sticking together in a dysfunctional family was their only hope. One thing Lexi knew for certain was that Jace wouldn’t leave her here alone. He would not have put himself in danger for a stupid fishing trip. His chance to break free of their crazy family was finally around the corner. He'd just bought his girlfriend an engagement ring. They had plans to move to New York as soon as the wedding was over. Now he was gone. None of it made any sense. Why was she the only person who could see that something was wrong with ruling the cause of death as accidental?

Lexi brushed at her red hair with a careless hand and caught a glimpse of her swollen, blue eyes in the rear view mirror. She hardly resembled her brother at all—a fact that had always bothered her, but she’d never questioned it the way Jace had. He had always asked where he'd gotten his blonde hair.

“Lexi, why don’t you stay with me tonight?”

The sound of Kristy’s voice startled her. “I’m sorry. I’m really out of it.” She smiled and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Thank you for everything. You’ve done more than enough for me over the past few days.”

“You know I’m always here.”

 “I know.” She swallowed hard. “Kristy…”

“What’s wrong?”

   

“I can’t stop thinking...I just don’t think this was an accident. It couldn’t be. Jace didn’t even like to fish. He wouldn't charter a boat to go fishing in Cozumel. He liked nice restaurants, museums, theaters. Not fishing. And then there’s the fact that he didn’t take Selena with him. He always had Selena with him. Why doesn’t anyone else seem to think this is odd?” 

Great excerpt, Theresa! Where can we get a copy?

Pelican Book Group of course LOL!

Wonderful....now let's find out a little more about you....

Theresa is an award-winning author of Christian Fiction. A native Texan, she loves to write suspenseful stories that happen in small Texas towns with old fashioned Southern values. She’s an elementary teacher and mom to two boys—the oldest being in law enforcement, which comes in handy when she’s researching.

When she’s not teaching kids or writing, she loves to cook, read a good suspense, and binge-watch episodes of Dateline. Someday she plans to seek help for her chocolate addiction, but she’s just not ready yet. She loves to hear from readers and can be found at www.theresalynnhall.com

Find and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@theresalynnhall) and Pinterest!

Thanks again Theresa! Good luck and God's blessings with your new release!

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll join me weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Guest post by Carol Nichols!

Good Morning!

Well, tomorrow is D-Day...I'm departing for a 2 month RV trip along the West Coast then across the Midwest and back down south! Follow me here and on Facebook for updates and pics and don't forget the Multi-Author Rafflecopter giveaway which ends on 12:01 am July 1st!

I'm excited to bring Carol Nichols back to our blog to share some thoughts with us so please give her a warm welcome.....

Do you have a mantra?  You know something that you can call upon during a time of need. I do.  It’s “Count all things joy” and “Only good comes from God.”

Sometimes that’s hard to wrap your head around especially if you are stressed, feeling inadequate to find a solution to a loved one’s problem or just overwhelmed.

Are there times when you feel like the donkey that has fallen into the ditch on the Sabbath and not completely sure if anyone is going to come pull you out?

We have numerous feelings brought on by all sorts of circumstances, and I don’t know about you, but when my heart is overwhelmed, I want to do anything but think about joy.  I want to escape from what feels too large and out of control.

I try not to have a pity party, and I certainly don’t want to do it alone if I do, so I usually try to pull friends into it with me by sending text messages bemoaning my circumstances in life.  But thankfully they don’t let me get far. They tell me, God is there for me and wants us when I’m feeling this way, to turn to him. To run to His Word which calms me and comforts me, so they send scripture.

Most times, you can’t change the happenings in your life that feel so monumental.  The happenings that swirl around you day by day. But, whatever feels bigger than you and I is nothing for our Lord and Savior who can handle all things.

When I want to escape, which seems to be quite often, and sometimes even want to hit the road so that I may be released from whatever powers that be, I’ve learned to first turn to God.

The kindergarten and first grade on Wednesday night that my friend and I are so privileged to teach in the worship session, are a fine example of this.  All are well on their way, as you can already see there open-hearted trust in the Lord.

We tell them that when they open the Bible that what’s inside is not only God’s word but God’s living word.  We tell them they can read God’s word over and over and then on that one certain day God speaks to us through that same scripture we have repeatedly read.  Yes, repeatedly read, but until now, until this particular situation, we have never read in this way with this need.

James tells us to Count all things joy.  So, when we are deep into it, we better get our joy going and always praise Him whether in the sunshine or the rain.

For with the Lord, you can find yourselves covered in the truth of His Word and in the security of His presence.  For in Him all the day to day pressures, which mount against you, can quickly be brought in to the size of the Almighty.  For our God is a big God.

God’s living Word gives us the safety we need.  And if God’s word is living then we, being in his presence, can give us the love and peace we need.  Then when you feel the need to escape, please turn to Jesus who’s waiting to envelop you in his arms.

Wow, Carol so TRUE! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

Carol has worked in the legal profession since her Junior year of High school where she was a legal secretary at an El Reno law firm.

Carol continued her career in law enforcement with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office and worked under four different administrations before accepting a position with the District Attorney’s Office.

After a move to Southern Illinois, she worked for a criminal defense attorney before moving to Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania, Carol started writing through journals.  Upon moving back to El Reno in 1992, she was employed by USDA, Ft. Reno before retiring.

Carol’s journey continued with family illness thus heightening her awareness of life's fragility and resumed in-depth writing to move things from her mind to paper after the loss of her husband, Glen.
Carol has found release and expresses her feelings about life, marriage and faith which is well realized in her writings.

She resides in El Reno with her Jack Russell terrier, Patches. Find out more about Carol by visiting her website.

Beautiful clocks, Carol and I understand exactly how you feel. My own sweet husband died in 2009 and it's been a long journey from then until now. Treasure each moment you shared, but don't forget to treasure yourself and the opportunities to grow and bless others from your experiences.

Friends you can find Carol's debut novel, A Different Season at Amazon in Ebook and Print!

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by @MeganWhitsonLee

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Treasures!

As much as I enjoy hosting ALL authors, as you know, fellow PBG & BWG authors hold a special place in my heart. Today's guest is new to me and our blog so please give a great big southern 'Hello!' to Megan Lee.....

Let Everything that has Breath…

I have always loved animals. Growing up, we had horses, dogs, hamsters, parakeets, fish, and even hermit crabs. Throughout my life I’ve dealt with some tough things, and God has lent me some of His creatures as therapeutic means by which to deal with less-than-stellar situations.

We have two dogs now: Chase, our ten-year-old retired racing greyhound, and Trinity, a five-year-old Italian greyhound. When my husband and I were dealing with incurable infertility, my dogs brought me joy. They sensed when I was sad and needed furry friends around me. They have been treasures, and they need us—in many of the same ways that children would. My husband and I believe that God hand-picked and sent them to us for comfort.

The Bible tells us that we can learn from animals: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7) and “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26).

Not only can we glean knowledge from their behaviors, we can also observe that God’s plan for us is for our welfare. Every beast in the forest is His. He knows every cattle on the hill and He knows the instant a sparrow falls from the sky. So how much more concerned is He with our deepest concerns and worries. Just as He supplies an animal’s sustenance and needs, He knows our cares before we tell Him.

Our dogs, Chase and Trinity, are daily evidence that God is good. He loves us and wants the very best for us. Tokens of His love and the daily reminders of it, come in various forms and from many sources…and sometimes they come from God’s creation itself.  “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord…” (Psalm 150:6)

What a lovely and touching story, Megan...you're right, all animals (especially our pets) are definitely something to treasure,Thanks for sharing!

Megan Whitson Lee is a wife, a mom of two greyhounds, an editor for Pelican Book Group, and a high school English teacher. Her novel, Captives, won the 2016 Director's Choice Award and was a finalist for a Selah Award in the women's contemporary fiction category at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference.

Megan writes women's contemporary and historical fiction featuring characters standing at the crossroads of major life decisions, crises of faith, and moral dilemmas. Her novels depict real-life problems, address universal spiritual and moral struggles, and offer messages of hope, recovery, and redemption through God’s saving grace.

Her newest YA book, Suburban Dangers can be found at Amazon in Print and for Kindle and at Pelican Book Group. Find out more about Megan by visiting her Website and connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter (@MeganWhitsonLee), Instagram and Pinterest.

Hope you enjoyed today's guest post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

Win a Kindle Fire!

A few authors and I are getting together to give away a Kindle Fire!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter Today!

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Marilyn Leach & Enigma of Fire

Good Morning Friends!

Today's guest is no stranger to our blog. Marilyn has shared thoughts with us twice and treasures once, so please give her a great big warm welcome back with a special post about Pentecost and her new book, Enigma of Fire.....

Happy Birthday Church, English Style

Just imagine watching young people all dressed in white, instruments playing and voices lifted in song as they march along.  You would be among the spectators of a Whitsun Sunday procession in long-ago England.

Pentecost Sunday, in that fair land, is known as Whitsun.  It celebrates the event of the Holy Spirit being given to the church.  That event turned followers of Jesus, who had fled and hid during Jesus’ trials and death, into bold preachers of the Gospel, many of whom eventually died for their Christian faith.  What a wonderful gift: the grace of empowerment, the celebration of an abundant life.  It’s been declared the day of birth for the Christian Church. 

In England, Whit is related to an ancient word meaning wisdom, which is recognized as coming from the Holy Spirit.  Also, the newly confirmed of the church would wear white, wit, and parade through the village with music and singing.  England’s Canterbury Cathedral is one of many ancient churches to have an architectural feature called a Holy Ghost hole.  It’s a hole in the roof to allow entry to the Spirit.  During Whitsun, the holes are often decorated with flowers.  Dove forms are also added as a sign of welcoming.  Red handkerchiefs were often handed out to be waved in celebration and, today, red balloons can be added to the joyful atmosphere.  There are all kinds of festivals and activities on the Monday following Whitsun as well.  In England, it’s a bank holiday.

In my book, Enigma of Fire, the area churches are having a boat regatta on the Monday holiday. It’s a carnival atmosphere.

This coming Sunday, June 5, is the church’s world-wide recognition of Pentecost.  It’s a wonderful time to thank God for all the amazing and wonderful gifts He gives to us.  You may not see a procession with a brass band this Sunday, but as my character, Berdie Elliott, would say: “Happy Whitsun.”

At the age of nine, Marilyn wrote her first play with a childhood neighbor, “The Ghost and Mr. Giltwallet”.  It was a mystery.  And she’s been writing in one form or another, hobby or livelihood, since.  As well as teaching art, she’s had the opportunity to co-author several plays that have been performed on both church and secular stages, as well as two screenplays.  Marilyn has had the good fortune of “discovering her roots” while visiting England where she developed lasting relationships with wonderful people there.  It has greatly impacted her writing.  A great fan of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and David Cook’s Hetty Wainthropp series, Marilyn was inspired to write her Berdie Elliott Mystery series.  It takes place in a small English village where the vicar’s wife, Berdie Elliott, is the divine sleuth.  Marilyn lives lakeside in a cottage on the outskirts of Denver near the foothills.

Find Marilyn at the following places...

www.amazon.com

www.marilynleachteaandbooks.com

www.pelicanbookgroup.com

In the English village of Aidan Kirkwood, no divine gifts are going spare when Berdie Elliott flames into action and demystifies the enigma of fire.

When English village, Aidan Kirkwood, experiences an explosive fire, the entire parish is aflame with rumor and innuendo until Berdie Elliott, the scorching sleuth and vicar’s wife, can douse the flames with cold, hard facts that expose the perpetrator.  A heroic dog, elusive book, and military champions come together to reveal the enigma of fire.

“Cedric. Don’t chance it. Please.” Doug’s voice trembled as he shot out the command.

“Don’t what?” Berdie asked herself as much as Doug.

“Down, Mrs. Elliott.”  Doug’s eyes wide, his breathing was short and rapid for the toil of making his wheels go toward them as fast as he could manage.

“Down?  What are you talking about?”

Berdie suddenly experienced a jolt to her body that propelled her to the ground with such force it left her breathless. A stab of pain coursed through her while the reverberation of full-on colliding trains penetrated her ears. The horrific ache that shot through her knees focused her senses as she tried to gather her thoughts. Grass etched itself into her cheek, making it itch.  Then the smell of acrid smoke assaulted her nose. She worked to catch a breath of air. What’s happened? 

ENDORSEMENT for Enigma of Fire...

Are you an Agatha Christie fan?  Does the thought of an English village make you long to grab your passport and head across the pond?  Are cozy mysteries your cup of tea?  If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you won’t want to miss Marilyn Leach’s newest release, Enigma of Fire.

Intrepid heroine Berdie Elliott, a vicar’s wife whose sleuthing skills were honed as an investigative reporter, faces her most challenging mystery yet when her husband’s former military comrades come to the sleepy village of Aiden Kirkwood for a sculling regatta.  From its riveting prologue to the final resolution, this story showcases Leach at her best. ~ Amanda Cabot, CBA and ECPA bestselling author

Find Enigma of Fire and Marilyn's other books at Amazon!