#SaturdaySpotlight is on Katie Clark & The Rejected Princess!

Good Morning!

Yep, it's the last Saturday Spotlight in April....hope your weather is as lovely as ours is here in SWLA. I sent sunshine and flowers in my last newsletter email as well as a special gift so if you haven't signed up to receive it, do so HERE.

Last month, fellow Pelican Book Group author, Katie Clark shared something she treasures with us but today we're getting a peek into her latest release, The Rejected Princess. Take it away Katie....

When Princess Roanna Hamilton’s parents arrange a marriage with a prince of Dawson’s Edge—the mysterious and backwards kingdom to the south—Roanna reluctantly agrees, accepting that peace must be put ahead of her lifelong relationship with Prince Benjamin of Lox.

But when Roanna is introduced to Dawson’s royal family, strange mind-bending anomalies are awakened within her, and she discovers the Dawsonian royal family holds secrets of their own.

Roanna becomes locked in a battle between kingdoms. Rebels wish to eliminate people who possess powerful anomalies. With threats growing daily, Roanna comes to realize the danger she is in—not to mention how her own family, and Benjamin’s, would react if her anomaly was revealed.

Tensions rise when Lox is attacked. If Roanna is to save herself and her future, she must stall her marriage and squelch the growing rebellion—all while discovering how deeply her power runs. But will Prince Benjamin and her family accept her when the truth of her heritage is finally revealed?

Excerpt: Princess Roanna of Chester’s Wake had only been to the dungeon once in her life, but that one trip had scared her enough that she never wanted to return. Now, ten years later, Roanna worked in the palace libraries side by side with Prince Benjamin of Lox, her lifelong friend and cohort in crime all those years ago, as they sorted socks, coats, and blankets to take to the Rejected in the orphanages. 

“I just want to look around the dungeon for a little while.” Ben’s voice pulled her gaze toward him. 

Roanna hated the dark and dank dungeon, which reeked of bodily fluids. The place gave her chills.

Thunder boomed overhead, and Roanna gasped. Pressing her eyes closed, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Perhaps she was being silly.

Ben quirked an eyebrow at her and grinned. He leaned against the library wall and turned to the windows as rain dumped loads of water into the western gardens of her family’s palace at Chester’s Wake. Ben was taller than her, and his dusty-blond hair was parted messily to the right side. He was handsome, as so many hopeful girls had told him before. Not that he seemed to care about that.

Roanna finished tying a ribbon on the package she’d put together. She set it to the side and grabbed more supplies. Ben had been with her that fateful day in the dungeon ten years ago—the new cook’s assistant had dragged them there after catching them stealing cookies from her platter. She’d said it was to teach them a lesson they’d not soon forget. The assistant was fired that very day, and Roanna swore off even the thought of a life of crime.

Now, the idea of returning to the scene of their punishment all those years ago did not appeal. Why would he want to explore the dungeons, anyway?

KATIE CLARK started reading fantastical stories in grade school and her love for books never died. Today she reads in all genres; her only requirement is an awesome story! 

She writes inspirational romance for adults as well as young adult speculative fiction, including her YA supernatural novel, Shadowed Eden, and The Enslaved Series. 

You can connect with her at her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

The Rejected Princess can be found at Amazon for Kindle and Paperback & at Pelican Book Group in Ebook and Print along with Katie's other titles!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll check back weekly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and as always, Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Guest post by Janet Lynn

Good Morning!

Janet Lynn has visited us before, several times. She has shared treasures and thoughts in been in our spotlight on more than one occasion. It's been more than a year since her last visit so please welcome her back with some thoughts and a brand new book!

My husband, Will Zeilinger and I co-write the Skylar Drake Murder Mystery series, a hard-boiled  series that takes the reader to 1950s Los Angeles and other areas of the west. Our new book, SLICK DEAL, begins News Year's Eve 1956 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, The first murder and clues lead to Avalon, The Island of  Santa Catalina.
To research 1956 Catalina, we spent a week on the island. At the public library we spent hours with old newspapers. Then on to the new Catalina museum, the historic Casino interviewing people and got a real good feel for the town at that time. We of course, as in all murder mysteries, had dead bodies we had to put somewhere. Several people recommended the pet cemetery, some mentioned the Chimes Tower and a couple of more places. So we rented a golf cart (there is a fourteen year waiting list to bring cars on the island) and spent three hours looking at the places they recommended.
The pet cemetery was first on our list. It's a sweet and somewhat eerie unofficial pet cemetery just outside of town (it's not on the maps). Little tombstones mourn and celebrate dogs, cats, birds etc. Some grave markers are simple, some quite elaborate, while others are touching (some are funny). The little cemetery starts at the road and goes back into the woods.

As we walked through the cemetery, I couldn't help but think back of my dog Randi. My mother walked to work every day and one day Randi, about one year old, followed her home and never left. She was a Golden Receiver possibly mixed with Collie. That's what at the Vet said. She became such an integral part of our lives it's hard to imagine what life would have been without her. We had Randi until she died at twelve. Though she has been gone over fifty years ago, her memories and thoughts, still remain. I still think about her from time to time especially when I see a dog that looks like Randi walking on a leash with an owner. This walk through the cemetery brought back feelings and thoughts of love, funny moments, and lots of hugs she received from the whole family.

How interesting, Janet! I know what you mean about missing a beloved pet. My German Shepherd crossed the rainbow bridge in January.

Published authors Will Zeilinger and Janet Lynn write individually until they got together and created the Skylar Drake Mystery Series. These hard-boiled tales are based in old Hollywood of 1955. Janet has published seven mystery novels and Will has three plus a couple of short stories.

Their world travels have sparked several ideas for murder and crime stories. This creative couple is married and live in Southern California.

The latest Skylar Drake Mystery, fourth in the series, SLICK DEAL was released April 16, 2018 and yes...we are still married!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/janet.lynn.5477

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=nav_responsive_tab_home

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetLynn4

Blog: http://janetelizabethlynnauthor.blogspot.com/

e-mail: janet_lynn51@yahoo.com

website: www.janetlynnauthor.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Contact info for Will:

Twitter:  @Will_Zeilinger

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/wzeilinger

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/william-zeilinger/15/48/9a7/

website: http://www.willzeilingerauthor.com

blog: http://www.booksbywilzeilinger.blogspot.com

Thanks Janet! We look forward to a sneak peek into Slick Deal soon! Meanwhile, folks, you can pick up a copy at Amazon. 

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

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by Susan Coryell

Good Morning Friends,

Well, it's the last Tuesday of April and for many, spring is still wishful thinking. The weather here in SWLA is chilly evenings/mornings and beautiful, warm days. I'm good with that, LOL!

Today's guest has visited before but it has been a while, so please welcome Susan Coryell back as she shares something she treasures with us.....

Attributed to Mark Twain is the following saying: “Happiness is not having what you want but wanting what you have.”

At this stage of life, the quotation fits my persona perfectly:

I live in a charming cottage on a lovely lake—just what I always wanted.

I have a big extended family, every one of them most definitely wanted, especially the seven grand- children.

I am blessed with a wide and diverse circle of friends in my neighborhood and church who are always ready to go places and do things I have always wanted to be involved in and with.

As a full-time working mother with many responsibilities, I looked forward to a time to rest, reflect and write; now that I have retired after thirty years of classroom teaching, I cherish those minutes and hours of “free” time. This is something for which every writer yearns.

Over the last five years I have had the time and energy to write and publish four novels. The Overhome Trilogy is a Southern Gothic/cozy mystery with contemporary characters set in Southern Virginia against a rich history background: A Red, Red Rose; Beneath the Stones; Nobody Knows.

Just released March, 2018 is A Murder of Principle, inspired by my many years as an educator.

All of my books are published by The Wild Rose Press and are available at all on-line bookstores in both e-book and print.

Yes, I want exactly what I have. My life is full and fulfilled and I consider each day a treasure.

Oh wow, Susan what a lovely list and testimony to the power of unwavering faith and perseverance! Tell us a little about your new book, A Murder of Principle.

A new principal takes Harding High by storm, wreaking havoc with every executive order and every decision, tearing apart the stellar school tenet by tenet.

Teachers, other administrators, students, parents, and the community at large increasingly react to the tremors shaking Harding High as Principal Wendy Storme churns a destructive path through their traditions, values, and protocol. Everyone associated with Harding has a valid motive for murder.


Determined to save her school and friends, English department chair, Rose Lane, and her rookie sidekick, intern Penny Bright, vow to move the hurricane-force Storme out of Harding for good…except somebody beats them to it with the decisiveness of murder.

About Susan....
A career educator, Susan Coryell has taught students from 7th grade through college-level. She earned a BA degree in English from Carson-Newman College and a Masters from George Mason University. She is listed in several different volumes of Who’s Who in Education and Who’s Who in Teaching.  Coryell belongs to Author’s Guild, Virginia Writers, and Lake Writers. She loves to talk with budding writers at schools, writers’ conferences and workshops. Her young adult anti-bully novel EAGLEBAIT is in its third edition for print and e-book, updated with cyber-bullying. EAGLEBAIT won the NY Public Library's "Books for the Teen Age," and the International Reading Association's "Young Adult Choice."

A RED, RED ROSE, first in a cozy mystery/Southern Gothic series, was nominated for a literary award with the Library of Virginia. BENEATH THE STONES, the sequel, was released in April of 2015. NOBODY KNOWS, the final novel in the Overhome Trilogy was published October, 2016. All three volumes of the Trilogy were published by The Wild Rose Press (NY).

The author has long been interested in concerns about culture and society in the South, where hard-felt, long-held feelings battle with modern ideas.  The ghosts slipped in, to her surprise.

Also published by TWRP, A MURDER OF PRINCIPLE released March 12, 2018 and is available at Amazon.

All novels are available at Amazon, B&N and all on-line bookstores.

When not writing, Ms. Coryell enjoys boating, kayaking, golf and yoga. She and her husband, Ned, love to travel, especially when any of their seven grandchildren are involved.

Find out more by visiting Susan's Website, Blog, Facebook, Amazon Page and connecting with her on Twitter @SCoryellAuthor.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Raquel Byrnes and Wind Reapers!

Good Morning Friends!

Raquel Byrnes was in our spotlight last month with her release, The Tremblers. Today she returns with Wind Reapers (book 2 in her Blackburn Chronicles series) so please give her a great, big, warm, WELCOME!

Charlotte Blackburn—Hero, hunted, the unwitting symbol of a dark rebellion—she thwarted the deadly intent of the treacherous Order of the Sword and Scroll, but at a shattering cost. Now, she fights to survive among a tribe of fierce Wind Reapers who troll the wasteland aboard massive metal walkers. But a new storm is brewing and Charlotte is once again the linchpin in a deadly plan. Sebastian Riley has one goal: Help the citizens of his floating Outer City to survive the Ashen Croup, a terrible affliction that drowns victims in their own lungs. But help comes in the form of the infamous Lady Blackburn, a woman wanted for treason who is determined to run headlong into destruction to prevent a coming war—even if it means reaching out to those who want her dead. Pursued by the shadowy Order and hunted by the furious Reaper clan, Riley and Charlotte brave the monstrous hordes of decaying Tremblers and the terrors of the Wasteland to stop the bloodshed and secure a mysterious calculating engine—a device that can bring about the destruction of an entire nation. With brutal forces gathering against the unsuspecting citizens inside the Tesla domes, a vicious scientist intent on capturing Charlotte for his experiments, and the whole of the country in deadly peril, one of them must make a sacrifice too terrible to comprehend.

Wind Repers is book 2 in Raquel's "Blackburn Chronicles" series and can be found at Amazon & Pelican Book Group.

Raquel Byrnes writes across several genres including YA Steampunk, Fantasy, and Gothic Mystery. Critically acclaimed for her edge-of-your-seat stories with complex characters and heart pounding thrills, she is always looking for another adventure in which to partake. She is the author of the romantic suspense series, The Shades of Hope trilogy, which sold into foreign translation and garnered international acclaim. Her fourth and fifth books, a Gothic series called The Noble Island Mysteries, were hailed by critics as, "a perfect blend of suspense, intrigue, and creepiness that will draw you into a dark world...keeping you frozen until the final conclusion..."

When she's not writing she can be seen geeking out over sci-fi movies, reading anything she can get her hands on, and having arguments about the television series Firefly in coffee shops. She lives in Southern California with her husband, six kids, and various reptiles.

Links: Find her on the web at: http://raquelbyrnes.com/ or https://twitter.com/raquelbyrnes and on Amazon on her Author Page. Sign up to receive her newsletter!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight 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 Guest Post by Lynn Crain

Good Morning!

It's always a pleasure to introduce to you a new-to-me-and-my-blog author so without much further ado, here's Lynn....

Hi everyone!

First, I need to thank Pam for having me. It’s always wonderful to connect with friends and readers through a blog post.

Writing is my life but last year was a rough one considering my husband had cancer. It was a year full of angst, treatments and me doing classes to keep the writing alive. Frankly, I am amazed that I had even two things published but I’d always knew there’d be great years, good years and just barely there years.

See, I’ve been a writer a long time and most of the time I don’t need inspiration but this year, when I’m supposed to be writing daily, it’s been a hard time. Writer Jeff Goins has a really good book out called You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One) that I read a snippet of and it really touched me. In caring for my husband and substituting classes for writing, I lost the writing me somewhere along the way.

So, how does one find their writing self again? Well, for me, it was throwing myself into a project. The project happens to be the one I’m promoting here, Mystic Realms. Once January happened and my husband was declared cancer free, I threw myself into all the trappings of getting a release ready.

I was thankful I had the piece already written and gave it a quick once over. I had to add some words but my editor had looked at it a while ago, so I knew it would be easy. After adding going over the manuscript and adding what was needed, I zipped it off to her. Then I was off to look for a cover and not just any cover but something very specific as this was an Urban Fantasy and the first in the series.

Once the cover was found, I made sure that the artist could turn it into a series one and after about a week, the collaboration was done. The cover was submitted to great fanfare and I knew the writer in me was slowly coming back.

The parts were all submitted like the blurb, tagline and excerpt as we prepared for release day. I’d forgotten how the promo train grabs hold of one and steers your daily life until you know you’ve done all you can to get the word out. Promo is one of the things I think most authors detest but this time for me, it helped me get back into the groove.

Even the current class I’m taking, Folklore and Fairy Tales, got me back into the daily habit of writing with reading response papers and in class pieces every week. When I wasn’t reading the class work, I was writing something about it. The final project is a new fairy tale written by the students. I wondered for weeks about what I was going to write about and that too got me into the writing mode. Finally, I decided that I was going to re-imagine a Cinderella tale where an older Cinderella wanted to pass the shoe to someone just as worthy. What’s even better was I just found the perfect cover for it, so it will be released as a short story sometime this summer.

Happily, after a year of unexpected down time, I can honestly say that I am back on the road to be the best ever writer me.

Lynn

What goes bump in the night? What causes you a fright? While the answers for each may vary, I promise that these stories will not leave you wary.

From vampires and demons to shifters and creatures that you’d never suspect, this set will leave you breathless in the best possible ways.

So, don’t be afraid. Come, step inside our realm. Allow the mysticism of romance in many shapes and forms fall over you like a veil of sweet, soothing, spine tingling comfort.

We promise…you won’t be sorry.

Bound by vengeance, she is humanity’s one hope…

Blurb: 

Aingeal Cochran is on a mission to save humanity from itself when suddenly she’s staring head-on at her forgotten past. Lukas Everhard must bring her up to speed regarding the real enemy before allowing himself to love her completely. In learning about her past and mission, Aingeal realizes the best is yet to be and she will do anything to protect those she loves. For Lukas, Aingeal is the mission

PURCHASE Links for Mystic Realms:

Amazon   iBooks   Kobo   Nook

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvnbNt2Mqc0&feature=youtu.be

Award-winning author Lynn Crain has done it all in her life. From nursing to geology, her life experiences have added to her detail-rich stories. She loves writing full time, weaving contemporary, fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales, tame to erotic, for various publishers. Her home is in the desert southwest, and she’s just returned from her latest adventure of living in Vienna, Austria while her husband worked his dream job.

She loves hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net

Where Lynn Is:

www.lynncrain.com

lynncrain.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/oddlynn3

https://www.facebook.com/LynnCrainAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/groups/xtraordinaryromance/

https://www.pinterest.com/oddlynn3 /

https://www.instagram.com/lynn.crain

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

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Guest post by Emily Conrad

Good Morning Friends!

Last month I introduced to you a fellow Pelican Book Group Author, Emily Conrad. Today Emily returns to share something she treasures with us.....

Small Business Saturday drew my mom and I to a downtown jewelry store near my city’s Main Street. We were Christmas shopping for my sister, who had long been admiring vintage gemstone rings.

The jeweler showed my mom and I to the case he stocked from estate sales. A gorgeous citrine ring with intricate filigree shone among the selection.

The jeweler told us he’d discovered the ring (and others) in the basement of the store. His father had made the rings, but they had never sold and were put away in storage. Now that they’d been rediscovered, the store was selling them off.

Part of me couldn’t believe he’d part with something his dad had made, but then I suppose his dad had made them so people would wear and enjoy them. And perhaps the jeweler kept something for himself or his family.

Whatever the case, the citrine ring was true handcrafted vintage with no previous owners.

My sister and I wear the same ring size, so I tried it on. And fell in love.

Though the ring was gorgeous, it didn’t match what my sister wanted, so my mom ended up buying it for me as a special Christmas gift.

I love that the story behind how I got the ring is wrapped up in family—mine, and even the jeweler’s. I love that it’s tied to my hometown, too, and our nice, small town Main Street sector.

It’s been a few years, but the ring remains a treasure to me. That jewelry store is only a few blocks from the location that inspired the setting for my debut novel, Justice, and I received the ring at some point during the process of working on the story. When a ring entered the story, I knew just what to base it on.

Do you have any jewelry with an extra-special story behind it? Please use the comments to share!

How sweet, Emily! I have a ring that was handed down to me from my grandmother that's really special but never have found one with such a wonderful story attached to it. Thanks for sharing!

Emily Conrad lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two rescue dogs. She loves Jesus and enjoys road trips to the mountains, crafting stories, and drinking coffee. (It’s no coincidence her debut novel is set mostly in a coffee shop!)

She offers free short stories on her website www.emilyconradauthor.com and loves to connect with readers on social media.

facebook.com/emilyconradauthor

Instagram.com/emilyrconrad

Twitter.com/emilyrconrad

Her debut novel, Justice can be found at Amazon, B&N, and Pelican Book Group.

Jake thought he was meant to marry Brooklyn, but now she's pregnant, and he had nothing to do with it. Brooklyn can’t bring herself to name the father as she wrestles with questions about what her pregnancy means and how it will affect her relationship with Jake. If Harold Keen, the man who owns the bookstore across from Jake's coffee shop, has anything to do with it, the baby will ruin them both.

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

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on DiAnn Mills and High Treason!

Good Morning Friends,

Today's guest is no stranger to us but please give DiAnn Mills a great, big WELCOME as she shares an excerpt of her latest release, High Treason.

High Treason Page - https://diannmills.com/books/high-treason/

Specs -

Author: DiAnn Mills

Series: FBI Task Force, Book 3

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Year: February, 2018

ASIN: B073RSPXG8

ISBN: 9781496410993

Short blurb -

When someone attempts to assassinate a Saudi Prince on U.S. soil, FBI Agent Kord Davidson and CIA Operative Monica Alden head up a task force to keep the Prince safe and find those responsible to avoid an international incident that could have devastating consequences.

About the Book

When Saudi Prince Omar bin Talal visits Houston to seek cancer treatment for his mother, an attempt on his life puts all agencies on high alert. FBI Special Agent Kord Davidson is the lead on the prince’s protective detail because of their long-standing friendship, but he’s surprised – and none too happy – when the CIA brings one of their operatives, Monica Alden, in on the task force after the assassination attempt.

Kord and Monica must quickly put aside inter-agency squabbles, however, when they learn the prince has additional motives for his visit – plans to promote stronger ties with the US and encourage economic growth and westernization in his own country. Plans that could easily incite a number of suspects both in the US and in countries hostile to Saudi Arabia. Worse yet, the would-be assassin always seems to be one step ahead of them, implicating someone close to the prince – or the investigation. But who would be willing to commit high treason, and can Kord and Monica stop them in time?

Endorsements

"Mills has brought cultural and spiritual differences to life. Her characters, along with their real-life struggles, will bring an instant connection to readers. Her expertise in story development guarantees High Treason will end up as a favorite." —Cristel Phelps

– CBA Christian MARKET Magazine

RT Rating: 4 Stars - In this third book in Mills’ action-packed FBI Task Force series, the stakes are higher than ever. Compelling characters and a riveting plot that fits seamlessly with current events make this novel impossible to put down. Readers can count on being glued to the pages late into the night — as “just one more chapter” turns into “can’t stop now.”

– RT Book Reviews

"The blossoming romance in “High Treason” is the perfect counterweight to the high-paced danger of catching an assassin and those funding the plot. Every time it seems like the case is solved, Mills offers another surprise for readers and her protagonists, deftly showing how even the smallest details can come into play when solving a case. Mills is a master at weaving suspense into her storylines and “High Treason” is her best work yet."

– Tex Appeal Magazine

 Excerpt: Chapter 1 - High Treason

FBI SPECIAL AGENT KORD DAVIDSON had survived missions in the Middle East, been detained in Iran, escaped an ISIS death trap, and still walked and talked. His past kept him fueled for the future while adrenaline flowed whenever he recalled the danger—and the victories of working Houston’s terrorist division.

Early Tuesday morning, Kord sat in a Mercedes limo with Saudi Prince Omar bin Talal, his longtime friend and a grandson of the royal Saud family, en route to the Saud mansion in River Oaks. The prince’s mother, Princess Gharam, and his two sisters rode in a limo behind them. Prince Omar had requested Kord for protection detail as an olive branch to the Americans. Smart move, in Kord’s opinion. The strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the US resulting from falling oil prices and the US having less dependency on foreign oil was only part of the problem. Despite being a strong ally to the West in the fight against terrorism, the Saudis disapproved of how the US was handling the ongoing tension in Iran, Syria, and Yemen, and the list went on.

Kord shook off those bleak thoughts and turned his attention to the security detail. “I’m looking forward to catching up with your family,” he said to the prince. “I appreciate the e-mails with your sons’ photos, but I want to know all about them from their father.”

Prince Omar grinned like a boy himself. “They study hard and work even harder at mischief. You and I will have hours of coffee and conversation.” His expression shifted to lines that aged him. “I wish the circumstances regarding my mother were more pleasant.”

“MD Anderson is the best medical center in the world to help her.”

“And Houston has the only facility conducting a clinical trial for her type of cancer. I keep telling myself she’ll be fine, trying to be hopeful. I have an appointment with her team of doctors after she’s admitted to the hospital this afternoon. They want to review the testing from her doctor in Riyadh and explain their proposed method of treatment.” He paused. “I’m glad you’re with me. In case Mother’s treatments aren’t successful, I’ll need a friend.”

“Princess Gharam’s a strong woman.”

“She’s determined to fight the cancer.”

“I see your business plans aren’t on the schedule.”

Prince Omar turned to him. “I’ll give you that once I know about Mother’s treatment.”

“My job is to ensure your safety.”

“We’ll discuss it later. On Wednesday week, I’d like for you to accompany me to Saudi Aramco.”

He responded respectfully. How many of those at the family business were supportive of Prince Omar’s plans to lease ownership in Saudi oil reserves to Americans?

Prince Omar tapped his driver on the shoulder. “Wasi, don’t forget we’re stopping at the Frozen Rock.”

“A little early for ice cream,” Kord said.

“Not on Riyadh time.”

The prince’s press secretary, Malik, laughed. “Prince Omar, I reserved the shop for 9 a.m. before we left home.”

The moment the limos pulled off Westheimer into the busy shopping strip housing the Frozen Rock, uneasiness crept over Kord. A sensation he couldn’t shake and one he’d learned to trust. He scoured the area looking for potential danger. “Prince Omar, I don’t think we should do this.”

“This is one of Mother’s favorite excursions, and my sisters enjoy it too.”

He glanced at his friend. “Zain and I can take orders and deliver them. My gut tells me this isn’t safe, and I can’t give you a solid reason why.”

“I know your gut talk,” Zain, the head Saudi bodyguard, said. 

“Kept us from getting killed a couple of times.”

Prince Omar sighed heavily. “We have eight armed men. This 

is a go.”

Wasi drove the limo to a far corner beneath an oak where both limos had room to park. The Frozen Rock sat midway in the retail center.

Zain turned to the prince. “Kord and I will make the initial trip and ensure the area is secure. After I talk to the owner and pay him per the conversation Malik had yesterday, I’ll call you. If I detect anything risky, we can cancel.”

The prince lifted his phone and frowned. “My battery is dead. Must have used it up at the airport. Call Malik if there’s a problem.”

Per the State Department and HPD, the bodyguards, all dressed in suits, were permitted to carry weapons in case of an attack. But Kord couldn’t shake off the wariness. Only Zain and Prince Omar wore white cotton pants and shirts under their thobe and ghutra with a black mishlah. The men shared a remarkable resemblance, but having Zain disguised as the prince gave Kord little relief. 

He surveyed the area, noting teens from the high school across the street, two women in workout clothes, and others who gave no apparent reason for the hesitancy in his spirit. “Would you like for Wasi and Malik to join us?”

Zain laughed. “You and I have faced a lot worse than a store owner forgetting to open early.”

“True.” No talking down a stubborn Saudi when he’d made up his mind.

Wasi placed the limo in park.

Kord exited the limo and walked around the front, his attention focused on every conceivable point where danger could be lurking. Finding nothing, he opened the door on Prince Omar’s side, and Zain stepped out, his slender body wrapped in centuries-old culture and tradition.

The two strode across the parking lot toward the window-walled Frozen Rock, painted in vivid orange and neon green. A Closed sign on the door met them, but lights were on inside the shop. Good. The reservations were intact. Now to get the prince and his guests fed and out of there. Was Kord crazy to be so apprehensive?

He knew Zain had his eyes and ears on what was happening around him while his fingers were inches from his weapon. A few feet from the glass door of the ice cream shop, Zain broke his stride. He fell against the glass door.

The pop of a rifle sounded.

Kord grabbed him, pulling out his Glock with his other hand. Shouts in Arabic alerted him to bodyguards emerging from the limos close behind him. Time hung suspended. Zain’s body slid to the sidewalk facedown, the ghutra soaked in red.

Book Club Resources

Try watching this video on www.youtube.com 
Bulk Ordering Link
Discussion Questions PDF
Chapter Excerpt PDF

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She 

combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Wow...suspense at it's best! Thanks for sharing DiAnn.

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts on Camping

Good Morning!

Many times when I receive interview questions, one is: What is something very few people know about you that might surprise them?

I usually skip that one because I'm pretty much an open book. However considering my upcoming weekend, I thought this might be the answer from now on....

I love to go camping! Not in a tent, mind you but an RV.

There is something about sitting by the campfire by the lake, or doing a little fishing on said lake, unplugged and off the grid, that restores my soul.

And that's where I'll be today through Sunday!

Never fear though, the show must go on and Saturday Spotlight is on DiAnn Mills, so please check back and support her.

If you leave a comment or email me, I will get back with you early next week.

THANKS Friends!
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures - Treasure Boxes

Good Morning Friends!

Surprise....two weeks in a row I share something I treasure. A rarity, I know LOL! I pray you are blessed and in finding out what I treasure, you'll consider all of the treasures in your life.

In the spiritual work I've done over the years, I'm learning that gratitude and appreciation are two of the most important attitudes we can have. I know it may sometimes seem like there is nothing in life, or rather in certain situations, to be grateful for and/or appreciate, but like Love and Forgiveness, Gratitude and Appreciation are choices you make.

What do these have to do with treasures?

Everything!

God loves a grateful heart and the law of attraction states that what you focus on, you receive more of (thoughts and things of like quality). Therefore, reminding ourselves of what we treasure and sharing our treasures with others, is a form of gratitude and appreciation, and practicing these opens your eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to receive even more things to appreciate and treasure.

We all have items we want to hang on to and treasure boxes that come in all shapes and sizes to put them in.

Here are a few of mine.....

Some are bought and some are homemade (bottom left is one my brother made for me) but all are crafted with love.

Luke 12:34 tells us....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also and Philippians 4:8 exhorts us....Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This is what gratitude and appreciation do....cause you to focus your mind and heart on the good things in life.

So when you're feeling down and negative thoughts are crowding your mind, take a few moments and pull out your treasure box (physical or literal) and remember how blessed you really are!

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, God bless and remember....Gratitude/Appreciation is a superpower

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Mary Alford & Grace and the Rancher

Good Morning!

Our guest today has shared treasures with and been in our spotlight before so please welcome Mary Alford back with an excerpt from her book Grace and the Rancher!

Grace Bradford is living a lie. To the world she has the perfect life: A promising country music career and a husband who adores her. But her husband isn't the man everyone believes him to be. When a car accident widows her and ends her career, Grace escapes to Delaney Mountain. But moving to the remote town doesn't wipe away the ugly secret of her marriage. Kyle Delaney never intended to return to Delaney Mountain, but he promises his dying father that he'll turn their land into a working cattle ranch. He uproots his life in Austin, sells his flourishing business as a music agent, and returns to the Colorado town of his childhood. Can a runaway singer and a makeshift rancher, thrust together by circumstance and held together by the common thread of loss and a love of music, find hope and a happily-ever-after under the stars of Delaney Mountain?

Excerpt: Grace Bradford cast a worried glance out the storefront window as snow continued to fall. “It’s really coming down out there.”

Martha McDougal, the store owner, stopped to watch the winter wonderland unfolding outside. “The storm seems to be moving in earlier than was expected. I don’t like it. Let’s give it another hour, and if we don’t have any customers, we’ll close up shop. I sure don’t want you to get stuck down here.”

Grace smiled at her friend’s consideration. When she’d first arrived in town eight months ago, widowed, injured, flat broke, and desperate to find a job and rebuild her life, Martha had accepted her. Grace had been such a wounded soul back then. Still, Martha hadn’t asked a single question. She’d simply given Grace a job and invited her to the small church on the edge of town. Grace had found a home.

“We had a delivery yesterday, thank goodness, so there's plenty of food on hand. Derek put some of the stuff away during his shift yesterday, but I don’t expect him to be in today. Since I doubt we’ll have a customer, you might as well stock a few items. But I’m serious, Grace. If no one comes in soon, go home. When you get ready to leave, just lock up and go. I think I’ll head out before the storm shuts down the pass outside of town, and I can’t get home to Ed.”

Grace walked Martha to the door. “That’s a good idea. You have a lot farther to go than I do, and Ed will be worried. Be careful. I’ll call you when I’m leaving.”

“All right, hon. I’ll talk to you soon.” Martha hugged Grace then forced the door open against the blustering wind and slipped into the increasing snowstorm.

Once Grace was certain Martha’s car would start, she closed the door and went to the back of the store. She brought out boxes of dry goods while keeping a close eye on the weather. By the end of the hour, she’d managed to shelve most of the stock. She turned up the radio and listened to the local weather report.

“Most of the roads leading into town have closed already or will be closing soon. If you don’t have to be out today, then we suggest you stay home. We’re expecting up to three feet of fresh snow with the storm clearing out sometime tomorrow. This one’s going to be a bugger, folks.”

It was time definitely to call it quits. She picked up the items she needed, left a check in the register, and then called Martha. “I’m heading out now. I have everything put away. If I’m able, I’ll come in tomorrow to make up my time.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to wait out the storm at the store?” Martha asked. “It’s really coming down here. I’ve barely made it home.”

Although the thought was tempting, Grace just wanted to get home. Her dog, Lizzy, would be anxious in this weather. “Thanks, but I’ll be OK, and it’s only a few miles. I’ll see you soon.” She carried out her groceries then turned off the lights and locked up. But the farther she drove up Delaney Mountain, the more doubts she had. Maybe she should have stayed in town.

Grace blew out a frightened sigh, and her breath chilled the air as she clutched the steering wheel. Her palms grew sweaty as the SUV slipped and slid on the icy road.

She slowed to a crawl as ice and snow began to accumulate on the windshield, destroying visibility. She strained to see, her gaze locked on the road ahead, as the storm continued to intensify.

She remembered another terrifying time less than a year earlier. The day her promising career had ended with the death of her husband. To the world, she and Nick had been one of Nashville’s up-and-coming couples. Grace knew nothing was further from the truth. That night more than her career had perished. Everything she believed to be real about her marriage and her husband died along with Nick.

Just let go. Let God take it...

Father, please, help me let go of the hurt… 

Even today—even right now when she knew she should be focusing on the road and the weather— letting go was a next-to-impossible task.

At times, Grace still woke up in the middle of the night and could feel the car crashing into the tree, could feel the excruciating pain of the steering wheel slamming into her throat as it damaged her vocal cords. She couldn’t scream or cry out for help.

Grace shoved aside those dark thoughts and scrubbed a hand over weary eyes. She leaned forward. She could barely see the hood, much less the road. The conditions were worsening by the minute, and she had no idea how much farther the vehicle would go. She eased down on the gas pedal, and the tires spun, spewing icy debris against the underside of the SUV.

The vehicle jerked forward as the tires caught.

Grace whispered a thankful prayer. The road continued its upward climb as it snaked around the side of the mountain. Her heartbeat pounded a frantic rhythm as she reached another ninety degree bend. To her right was a sheer drop off. She wouldn’t survive the fall if the SUV went over.

Grace gently nudged the steering wheel, at odds with her terror. She had almost reached another treacherous turn when the vehicle slid closer to the edge. She panicked and jerked the wheel in the opposite direction. The vehicle skated backward some twenty feet. The tires lost their tenuous grip and slithered closer to the drop-off.

She floored the gas and the vehicle jerked forward, swerved sideways, and headed straight for the overhang. Grace screamed and tried to turn the wheel but it was useless.

The Jeep didn’t react to anything. She had lost control. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to die. Not when she’d just started to live again. ‚Please, Lord, no.‛ Grace barely got the words out before the Jeep hurled itself head first over the side of the mountain.

Mary grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her two brothers and her sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seemed to come natural to her.

As a teen, Mary discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination.

She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense and was hooked.

Today, Mary still lives in Texas, and still creates people facing dangerous situations. In fact, she can’t think of anything else she’d rather do.

Learn more about Mary at www.MaryAlford.net, or send her an email at maryjalfordauthor@gmail.com or connect with her at the following locations:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAlfordAuthor/?ref=bookmarks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryalford13 

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/108978734609608122255

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maryjalfordauth/pins/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKbH4CBm878HaZZpNM9eomA 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=mary+alford 

Grace and the Rancher can be purchased at Amazon, B&N and Pelican Book Group.


I hope you enjoyed today's spotlight 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