#TuesdayTreasure: Being the Vessel by Donna B Snow!

Good Morning Friends,

Welcome to the last edition of Tuesday Treasure for September 2014. 

Seriously?!! Where has this year gone?

Today it is my pleasure to share with you some thoughts by my dear friend Donna B Snow on being a vessel for God.....

You know, oddly enough, I have no advice. Well, of course, that’s not all true. We all have advice…well, opinions. Yeah, that’s what it is, opinion, and yeah we all have one, can’t help it. I think it’s one of those chromosomes we all carry that’s planted on us when we’re born. (Sure wish some of us didn’t have it…I wonder if they can be removed?)

Anyway, I am no expert – on anything, although I am certainly happy to share the words that God puts on my heart from time to time. If they were all my own words, well, then they would be pretty worthless, but I know when He has something to say because I just can’t hold the words back, can’t keep them in. Sometimes it’s a song I have to write, sometimes a story to share, sometimes words I actually have to speak…yeah, those are the hardest.

 And then sometimes it’s prayer. There are no greater words, no more meaningful messages than the ones that touch your heart and have to be lifted up. I don’t understand why, but I know that God puts people/situations/places on my heart and it becomes so heavy that I just have to lift it up to Him. BUT HE PUT IT THERE!!

…and I’m grateful…grateful to be called on, grateful to be used, grateful to be deemed worthy of being the one to come before His throne. So when you feel that burden, don’t hesitate. Don’t doubt for a moment, just let Him use you as the vessel you were made to be. You see, He made you, perhaps for just that moment, or many more like it, whatever, but you are the one He chose. Don’t miss the call! Don’t leave a gap! May His Spirit find you ready and willing to be the light.

Donna is a native New Englander and has lived there all her life except for a year in northern California (which reminded her of home). She  loves the change of seasons and the beauty each one brings. and says there is no place else that will ever feel like home.

She's been married for 20+ years and has one daughter in college. 

An active member in her church, she is a member of the choir (along with her daughter), and she writes not just stories, but her own music as well (that she hopes to get published also).

Now here's a peek at Donna's book, Precious Embrace....

Laura Senton loves running her own kitchen at A Piece of

Heaven along with her best friend Trina. When her teenage crush appears she tries to hide from him as well as her own feelings which have never died.

Sean has no idea why Laura tries to avoid him but he’s very determined to rekindle their relationship of years ago.

Both covet the memories of their time together, but sins of the past can be a tough hurdle to get over.

Excerpt:

Laura went straight into the sanctuary, not stopping until she dropped to her knees near the altar.

            Oh God, I know You’ve forgiven me, but I don’t understand how. How can I forgive myself? I don’t understand how You can forgive me for the things I did…for destroying the life that was growing in me. It was just as bad as having an abortion. Tears rolled down her face. I knew I was pregnant and I didn’t care! The drugs and drinking and…oh God, You know everything I’ve done. I don’t deserve Your mercy or Your grace. Laura jerked when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Dee, the pastor’s wife, knelt beside her. She wrapped her in a hug and started praying.

Laura just listened to the kind, caring words and let them flow through her. She could feel God’s love, could hear His words, His message to her to let go of the past, that all was forgiven…that she didn’t have to understand how.

Wow, a perfect example of the power of prayer and being a vessel!

I pray you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure and will come back often for more as well as Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!

Until later...take care, God Bless and remember.... When the going gets tough, the tough get on their knees.

Pamela S Thibodeaux

"Inspirational with an Edge!"

#SaturdaySpotlight: #TheInheritance

Good Morning!

My guest today was unable to be here so I thought I'd spotlight one of my books for you so here goes....

The Inheritance is about the chance we all long for…the chance to start over. Widowed at age thirty-nine and suffering from empty nest syndrome, Rebecca Sinclair is overshadowed by grief and loneliness.  Her husband has been deceased for a year, her oldest child has moved to New York in pursuit of an acting career and her youngest child is attending college in France. Having spent over half of her life as a wife and mother, she has no idea what God has in store for her now.  Will an unexpected inheritance in the wine country of New York bring meaning and purpose to her life and give her the courage to love again?  

US Postal worker Raymond Jacobey has been in love with the little widow since he first set eyes on her.  A wanderer searching for the ever-illusive soul mate, Ray has never stayed in one place too long. Raised by self-centered, high-power executives, he’s longed for the idyllic life of residing in a cozy house in a small town with the love of his life. Will he gain the heart of the lovely widow or will he lose her to the wine country of New York?   

Excerpt: The icy New York weather matched the chill in Rebecca’s heart. Sitting at the kitchen table within the warmth of the cottage, she nursed a cup of coffee. She hadn’t talked to Raymond in over two weeks. Instead, she’d spent many a sleepless night plagued by doubt, insecurity and unanswered questions. She thought about him constantly, torn between calling and leaving him alone. Although many nights of tears followed by prayer and Bible reading helped her come to terms with what she’d learned about her husband, she still had no idea of what to do about Ray.

“Oh, God,” she murmured, feeling an overwhelming sense of loss and sorrow. “What now? What have I done? What am I going to do about Ray? I miss him so much.”

Closing her eyes, she swallowed the hard lump of emotion clogging her throat and let the tears come. She heard the rattle of the mailbox then a knock on the door.

Not wanting the letter carrier to see her in such distress, she waited until he left before getting up to see what he’d delivered. Lifting the envelopes out the box, she caught a whiff of fragrance. Turning them over, she saw why. Scented stickers covered the entire backside of every envelope.

“Oh,” she gasped, covering her lips with trembling fingers. Hope flared in her heart. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she looked around. “Ray?”

The Inheritance can be purchased at the following places...

Amazon for Kindle http://amzn.to/19J6Dxf

Ebook @ Pelican Book Group http://pelink.us/1cvBm29

Softcover @ Pelican Book Group http://bit.ly/1scLTVf

Well friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight. Stay tuned next week for more Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and of course another Saturday Spotlight!

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Moving Through Grief

Good Morning Friends,

You know I try to use this feature to encourage and uplift and today is no different despite the title of this post.

If you've followed me long, you'll know that my husband, my heart, my soul mate passed away in 2009 and that I've found myself in this jungle called single-hood. From the time I could articulate, my dream was to be married and have babies so I've never been comfortable being single.

"They" (whoever the hell 'they' are) say one of the signs of moving on is when you can look back without as much pain.

I can attest to that.

In the last five years I've done everything in my power to get through this valley of death. I've prayed, cried, loved and yet, there's still a place in my heart that literally aches and I'm not sure that will ever totally cease.

But at least I can say I'm don't feel as though I'm crawling through quicksand anymore.

Anyway, yesterday I saw this on Face Book and well.. it pretty much explains how I feel.....

 I believe this is true no matter who you are grieving.

A friend who recently lost a spouse said, "trying to figure out who I am now is the crazy part."

That too, is true.

No matter the fact you maintain your separate identities throughout the relationship, you still feel as though you're only half a person and that you have no idea who you are anymore.

But God does and He knows the great things in store for you!

So let me encourage you today.... If you find yourself in the pit of despair because God has called your loved one home, hang in there and when you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize it is not a freight train, ask Him to show you a new vision for your life.

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

#TuesdayTreasure: Last #RockingSummerRomance: #Summer'sGrowth by @AuthorTinaGayle

Good Morning Friends and Welcome to the final Rocking Summer Romance Read blog post. This week we end with another book by the same lady we began with....Tina Gayle and her book, Summer's Growth!

I asked Tina some questions about her writing process....

Which comes first, characters or plot?  Most of the time plot or open scene comes first.

Plotter, Panster, or somewhere in between?  Trying my best to become a plotter but I find I'm somewhere in between

What is the one question you wish interviewers would ask (answer)

Among those that you’ve written, which is your favorite book and why? 

Summer's Growth because I wrote while trying to recover from the loss of my mother. In many ways, it felt as if she helps me write it.

Find out more about Tina by visiting her Website, Blog, Facebook page. She is also on Good Reads, Google+, Twitter @AuthorTinaGayle and LinkedIn!

Forced by the family spirits to get a life, Mattie Winston has to train her replacement Amber Harrison to be in charge of all the workings of the Winston estate. Reluctant to make changes in her life, Mattie forms a bond with Amber, when strange accidents start happening which threaten their lives and an unknown ghost makes an appearance.

After being rescued by an old flame, Quincy Miller, Mattie faces old wounds of rejection. As the general contractor for Amber’s redecoration project, Mattie is in constant contact with Quincy and realizes she still in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Amber, learning her new role in the family, wants to discover the identity of the ghost who keeps appearing. After several appearances, Gwen, Amber’s distance grandmother, shifts the book into more of Amber’s struggle to find out why her grandmother disappeared two hundred years ago without a trace. In a fight to claim her position in the family, Amber searches for clues to solve the mystery.

Mattie and Amber are both challenged when the family spirits decides Amber shouldn’t be the keeper. Battling for Amber, Mattie realizes she wants a life with Quincy outside the Winston estate.

Amber realized the importance of her new spiritual family, and she works to discover how Gwen died.

Can these two women achieve their goals?


Read the first chapter at http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html Find at www.smashwords.com www.amazon.com

Excerpt:

Standing by the bay window in the front room, Mattie watched the car approach. Her new recruit’s arrival had goose bumps popping out on Mattie’s skin, adding to her anxieties.

She wanted to run, but instead glanced at the kindhearted spirit of Opal, her distant grandmother. Dressed in her best early American gown, the many layers of her petticoat swished with a soft hiss when she moved.

“There’s no reason to be nervous. Once you meet Amber, you’ll see she caps the climax,” Opal voiced in a soothing tone. “Your Aunt Rachel is absolutely thrilled to have a descendant from her branch of the family as keeper.”

Looking beyond her at the rest of the room, Mattie searched for the other members of the family council. They always offered her their support when she faced a big decision. Yet, today they were conspicuously absent.

“Don’t worry. The whole family is behind you. We just thought it better if we didn’t all hover.”      

Shifting from foot to foot, she wrung her hands together. A simple process of a changing of the guard for them, Amber’s arrival marked the end of the life Mattie loved.

The beautiful spirits around her didn’t understand how cruel humans could be to each other. What if she screwed up and the girl left? Or the girl hated living with a house full of spirits?

Unease pricked at Mattie’s mind. She had no experience in dealing with strangers. All her business associates understood her likes and didn’t force her to attend any social events.

A quick glance out the window, and a car rounded the fountain. She wasn’t prepared to entertain Amber. How could she be? She never invited guests to the estate.

“Now, Pumpkin, there’s no need to worry. It’s time another branch of the family realize what a pain it is to be keeper.” Opal smiled, offering her special form of reassurance. “We’re all here to help with the transition.”

The high notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sprang from the piano. Mattie jumped in surprise at the sudden noise. She whipped around to see Uncle Samuel, the artist of the family, standing next to the piano.

“The game is afoot.” He arched his eyebrows and grinned, then disappeared.

“I’d better leave.” Her aunt patted Mattie’s shoulder. “Just remember, the girl is uneasy too.”

Opal disappeared.

With a deep breath, Mattie turned and gripped the cold metal knob in her hand.

Soon her home would belong to a stranger, and then what would she do?

Get Summer's Growth at: Amazon (Kindle), Smashwords, B&N (NOOK), Kobo & Apple.

Hope you enjoyed the Rocking Summer Romance blog hop. If you missed any, you can find them on my Pinterest board! Also, the authors in this promo group will be doing a #FallingintoLove blog hop. I may not be able to post many because my Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights are filled through the rest of this year, but I will be tweeting the posts and pinning the books to my Falling Into Love pinterest board, so find and follow me!

Until later....take care, God Bless and remember.... What you believe in your heart & confess with your mouth you create in your life!

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

#SaturdaySpotlight: Stacy Juba & Faceoff!

Good Morning and once again, Welcome to Saturday Spotlight!

Today our friend, Stacy Juba is returning once more with yet another great title.

Brad’s twin brother T.J. has gotten himself out of the fancy prep school his father picked for him and into the public high school Brad attends. Now T.J., the bright light in his father’s eyes, is a shining new star on the hockey team where Brad once held the spotlight. And he’s testing his popularity with Brad’s friends, eyeing Brad’s girl and competing to be captain of the team. The whole school is rooting for a big double-strength win…not knowing that their twin hockey stars are heating up the ice for a winner takes all face-off. Originally published when the author was 18 years old.

Excerpt: As Mrs. McKendrick and Chris followed Jory into the living room, Brad and T.J. stared at each other. Finally, T.J. said, "Look, you've been ticked at me since practice. You're mad that I got made cocaptain aren't you? Come on," T.J. said when Brad didn't respond. "I've got just as much right to it as you do."

  Brad scoffed. "Hardly. I've been slaving on that team since I was a freshman."

  "So? It's not like I've never played the game before."

  "It doesn't matter. I've been playing for Bayview for three years and you haven't even played one game for them!"

  "Look, it's not my fault that I got yanked out of Hayden! I didn't ask to go to Bayview. You think I wanted to leave all my friends and go to a new school? It's hard enough going there without you acting like such a jerk."

  "You're the one who's acting like a jerk, T.J."

  "You're just afraid that I'm going to do better than you, and you can't take it!"

  "Are you kidding? You may be Dad's precious genius, but you're never going to be better than me at hockey. And if you think I'm playing on a line with you, you're crazy. So let's just see who Reynolds sends down a line, T.J.," Brad challenged his brother.

  "Yeah, well have fun playing with McCann," T.J. snapped.

  Brad shoved his brother into the refrigerator, and T.J. promptly pushed him back. They were grappling with each other when their father strode into the room and ripped them apart.

  "What on earth is going on in here?" Mr. McKendrick demanded, his face red.

  "Nothing," Brad said.

  "Nothing?" Mr. McKendrick asked.

  "Nothing other than the fact that T.J. is an obnoxious jerk."

  "Hey, you're the one who's threatening to quit the line," T.J. said.

  "I'm not threatening to quit the line. I'm threatening to get you kicked off it."

  T.J.'s green eyes flashed. "Go to hell!"

  "Look, I don't know what this is about," their father began, "but you two have an obligation to your teammates. You can't just go back on that because of personal differences."

  "He started it," T.J. said.

  "I don't care who started it. I just want it stopped."

Face-Off can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo,  Audible and iBookstore

  Stacy Juba loves to write stories about Characters at a Crossroads: individuals who are finding themselves and getting on the right life path after overcoming obstacles. Her goals are to entertain readers of all ages as well as inspire them. She has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears learning to raise the U.S. flag. Browse her website for more information on her mystery, romance, and contemporary fiction books for adults, teens, and children, guest author features and resources on how to build your own “character,” and for her book/product reviews and advocacy relating to Type 1 Diabetes.

Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301

Twitter https://twitter.com/stacyjuba

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2988212.Stacy_Juba

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/stacyjuba/

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight! Stay tuned next week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course Saturday Spotlight.

Until later....take care, God Bless and remember.... When the going gets tough, the tough go to God.

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

#ThursdayThoughts: Chivalry

Yep, you read that right. I'm thinking & talking about chivalry. But before we get into my thoughts, let's define Chivalry.....

The definition I found here, is that men should be truthful, loyal, courteous to others, helpmates to women, supporters of justice, and defenders of the weak. They are also expected to avoid scandal.

This is all fine, good and well, but what about women?

You know, I'm kinda tired of men getting a bad rap. I know, I know, there are all sorts of reasons men have that reputation...years of oppression, chauvinism, abuse and all that, but instead of keeping them ALL pegged as dogs or bums or jerks, we women should look to our own beliefs, behaviors, and expectations to see if and how we contribute to that of the man/men in our lives.

No, I'm not saying that it's all our fault (nor is it Eve's!!!) but what I am saying is that if we buy into the rhetoric that all men are dogs and jerks, then we not only expect them to be that way and to treat us that way, but we are often closed off to the ones who are the complete opposite!

So my challenge to you is this.... Treat the man/men in your life the way you want/expect to be treated.

Want to be respected? Respect him--his thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ideas are important too.

Want to be loved? Love him--his heart is tender too.

Want to be cherished? Cherish him--treat him with kindness and tenderness and he will respond likewise.

Want to be romanced? Romance him--what's your idea of a romantic gesture? Doing that for him will encourage him to be more generous in this area. Know also, that his idea of romance might not match yours exactly but appreciate his efforts and communicate your needs in a gentle way and he will learn!

Want to be encouraged and uplifted? Encourage and uplift him.

It is my honest and humble opinion that most men want to please their lady but ladies, if we have no clue what it takes to please us, how on earth can we expect him to know? 

More importantly, if we're giving him mixed signals, how is he supposed to get it right?

I also believe deep inside, most men have the heart of a gentleman. However, in this day and age where they are labeled as pansies or whatever, and treated as less 'manly' when their tender side is exposed, many are afraid to let that gentleman out of his cage of insecurity and false bravado. 

Of course there are exceptions to every rule and sometimes the best thing you can do for your own health and sanity is to leave a relationship but when you do, leave with kindness and take time to heal your heart, soul and mind before jumping into another.

Want to know more about men, women and relationships? Check out the New Chivalry Movement and follow James M Sama on Facebook and Twitter!

Oh and check out my Pinterest board where I pin NCM's blog posts!

I borrowed this photo from New Chivalry Movement's FB page and would like to ad lib here.... 

Keep Calm and Be a LADY...... In Other Words......don't expect your man to be a gentleman if you're acting like a witch or a brat or a....(fill-in-the-blank)

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

#TuesdayTreasure: #RockingSummerRomance with Linda McLaughlin

Good Morning!

Today's Tuesday Treasure is another Rocking Summer Romance read with Linda McLaughlin!

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history, so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team of Lyn O'Farrell.

You can find her online at http://lindalyndi.com

Blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor

Twitter: @Lyndi Lamont https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Linda Answers Tina Gayle's Summer Romance Questions! 

Ice Tea or Lemonade? 

Iced coffee

Lake or ocean? 

Ocean

Sandals or Flipflops? 

Sandals

Sit in the shadow of a tree or on the front/back porch? 

Tree since we don’t have many porches in southern California

Ball cap or floppy hat? 

Floppy hat

I had a few questions for Linda too....

Q: Which comes first, characters or plot?

A: Characters, always.

Q: Plotter, Panster, or somewhere in between?

A: Somewhere in between. I’ve heard it called being a Puzzler.

Q: Among those that you’ve written, which is your favorite book and why?

A: Rogue’s Hostage is my favorite. It’s the most personal, in a couple of ways. The first half is set in the area of Pittsburgh, PA., my home town. It’s also the book I was writing when my mother died, and when I finished, I realized that the heroine, Mara, is much like my mother. I just wish she had lived long enough to read the book. 

Q: Have your characters ever taken over the story and moved it in a direction totally different than you had in mind? What did you do?

A: Sometimes that happens, and sometimes it’s a good thing. If not, I have to rein them in. Most often it’s one of the secondary characters trying to take over the book.

Q: Do you have a "must have" book for writing?

A: Every book requires different research, but my baby name books are always needed. I especially like the ones that include historical and ethnic background information.

Now about the book....

Worth The Risk By Lyn O’Farrell (the writing team of Anne Farrell and Linda McLaughlin) Short Contemporary Romance Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.

Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.

Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amand'a private affair becomes very public, threatening her job and Mitch's custody suit. She's waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?

(Previously published as Private Affair, Kensington Precious Gem #121) Golden Heart Finalist, Short Contemporary category Buy links HTML: Amazon Kindle,
Apple iBooks,
BN/Nook,
Kobo, and
Smashwords

Excerpt:

His head was nestled in her lap. Amanda gently smoothed back the hair that had tumbled into his eyes. He sighed contentedly and gazed at her with soulful blue eyes.

"You really are a love," she murmured. "I can't imagine why I was ever nervous around you."

The living room was quiet now, except for the soft crackling of the fire. Shadows played on the walls as the flames danced in the fireplace. Dinner was over, the kitchen cleaned up, and Josh was upstairs asleep. It was the first really relaxing moment Amanda had had all day.

"Is that mutt bothering you?" Mitch asked as he stepped into the room.

"No, we've been getting acquainted." She smiled and scratched Albert behind the ears. He looked up at her adoringly. Then, as if aware that three was a crowd, he sauntered over to the fireplace and flopped down with a large sigh.

"Never thought I'd actually be jealous of a dog," Mitch muttered, sitting down on the couch next to her.

Amanda laughed. "But he's the sweetest thing."

Mitch murmured his agreement, then said, "You're sweet, too."

She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"For tutoring Josh, I mean," he said quickly.

"There's nothing sweet about that. I expect to be paid the going rate for my efforts."

"You will be," he assured her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "In fact, there may even be a bonus in it." He leaned closer, a teasing gleam in his eyes.

"What kind of a bonus did you have in mind?" Amanda knew she shouldn't have asked when his look changed to one of desire.

Pulling her closer, he rubbed his thumb along her lower lip and her lips parted instinctively. She looked deeply into his eyes and saw a new tenderness she hadn't seen before. Her body ached in anticipation as he continued caressing her mouth and gazing at her from hooded eyes that promised a world of pleasure in their blue depths.

Hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure/Rocking Summer Romance! Stay tuned for more Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until later....Take care & God Bless!
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight: Amy Peterson & Something Furry Underfoot

Good Morning Friends,

Back in April, Amy visited us to tell us about some of her pets....Today we're featuring Amy once again but spotlighting her book, Something Furry Underfoot.

“Want to know what it’s like living with a houseful of pets while still holding onto your sanity? 

You’ve got to read Amy Peterson’s warm and funny book about her experiences coping with and caring for all manner of animals. Not only will you get a lot of laughs but you’ll also pick up some valuable tips about co-existing with your own critters!” - Bob Tarte, author of Enslaved by Ducks, Kitty Cornered and Fowl Weather.

Opening paragraph of Something Furry Underfoot:

“If he wasn’t as cute as a yellow duckling, tenacious as a pit bull, and energetic as a kitten high on catnip, I wouldn’t have a dozen animals in my house right now. But Mark exhibits all that, plus employs the killer phrase, “I’ve always wanted one of those.” He also knows how to blink his puppy-dog eyes.”

Interview:

Was your husband really able to blink his eyes and get another pet?

Yes.  He started with some frogs and iguanas for his son, the latter of which were messy critters that found permanent homes elsewhere.  Then the pets came to stay.  Mark said he’d always wanted a hedgehog, and one day a female hedgehog came home.  She was soon joined by a male hedgehog that escaped from his cage several times and fathered several unplanned litters of baby hedgehogs.  The first ferret Mark wanted was soon joined by three more ferrets, including one that cost us $1,200 in vet bills. Our first puppy had so much energy, the logical solution was to get another puppy, said Mark. And did I mention that I’d only raised a dog before?

Were you responsible for any of the pets that came into your house?

Yes, well, admittedly, when a stray kitten showed up under the deck 10 years into my marriage, the only logical solution was for me to bring the kitten inside, fleas, lice and all.  And when I saw a bunch of rabbits running lose in a wildlife area, the decent thing to do was to bring them home, fleas, ticks, botflies and all.  And who could say no to the co-worker who found a domestic duckling in a neighbor’s front yard and needed some occasionally responsible adults to raise the duckling?

 

What surprised you the most about the pets you raised?

Three things:  1) That a domestic duckling has much personality as any other pet; 2) that it’s possible to get nine hamsters for the price of one and that some people keep all eight babies; and 3) that it’s possible for a mynah bird to show up on a postal truck unexpectedly.

Tell us more about your book.

My book Something Furry Underfoot is a humorous, touching memoir that aims to entertain and educate readers about things most people don’t know about pets.  For example, while most guinea pigs live 5-8 years, we rescued one that lived to be 11, and another that lived to be 12.  That means that the 13-year-old child the guinea pigs were purchased for went happily off to college while we cared for the elderly guinea pigs. I also include 50 tips, some of which are about pet lovers. Consider Tip #5: If your significant other was ever denied a pet in his/her “previous life,” you may be in for a lot of fur.  Other tips are about animals, including Tip #31:  Fleas jump more than rabbits.  Some proceeds will benefit animal rescue organizations.

To see some of the pets in Something Furry Underfoot, check out my 3-minute video called What Animals Deserve at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keR2JssTtOs.  It includes photos and video clips of Bumpkin, the domestic duck, walking by two dogs and the formerly stray cat, and our pet mouse we named Smokey Joe after we rescued him from the barbeque grill.

 Amy L. Peterson became a stepmother in 1994 after unwittingly falling for a guy with four great kids, ages three, five 13 and 15.  Unable to find any other humorous, touching memoirs about step motherhood, Amy wrote From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds.  Filled with 50 tips, it’s a helpful, fun read.

At the same time Amy was getting used to becoming a stepmother, her husband, Mark, was bringing various critters home. Something Furry Underfoot is Amy's humorous, heart-warming memoir about raising frogs, iguanas, hedgehogs, ferrets, hamsters, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, dogs, a stray cat, a domestic duckling, rabbits, mynah birds and tropical fish.  The animal antics in this book will keep you laughing and the tips will teach you something about pets and pet lovers you probably didn’t know. 

Back in the day, Amy was published in numerous magazines and does blog postings about nature, pets and life at www.amylpeterson.com, many of which feature her photography skills. She works for the state of Michigan and lives with her husband and a variety of fuzzy animals.

Connect with Amy at the following places:

Linkedin

Facebook

www.pinterest.com/amylpeterson

web site:  www.amylpeterson.com

Something Furry Underfoot:  as a paperback and e-book on Amazon.com and as an e-book in a variety of formats on Smashwords.com

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight! Stay tuned each week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course Saturday Spotlight!

Until later....take care & God Bless!

PamT

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#ThursdayThoughts: Remembering with Love....

All over the world today people will be remembering the events of 9/11/2001 with pictures and songs and hopefully prayers.


 


I'm not a big history buff and never liked learning about the wars and political crud around them and I know this day will be one in history books of the future.

My question would be.... How did this change your life?

Do you walk around in fear or have you made an attempt to return to love?

Simple questions yet profound.

For me, I remember this day with sadness yet hope that the people of the world will realize we can't solve violence and crime with more violence and that a peace movement should be done in an attitude of peace and love not hate.

In fact, life should be lived with an attitude of love and peace, not hate.

I know that might seem quite naive but what if we all vowed to live one day or even one hour in complete love....think thoughts of love and peace, speak words of love, joy, peace, & gratitude.

How much would the world change?

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

A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson is one of my favorite books and gives practical advice on how to forgive, let go and live a life of love and peace.

 Read it today!!

Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble  (Nook).

#TuesdayTreasure: #RockingSummerRomance with Anita Philmar!

Good Morning Friends,

Well we're into the home stretch of the Rocking Summer Romance blog hop. Only 2 more weeks then on to other Tuesday Treasures.

Today's guest is Anita Philmar with her book, In Too Deep....

In Too Deep was recently released and is the second half of "In Deep Water." These two stories start with two women just trying to cool off on a hot summer day in Texas. They have no idea how hot things are going to get for them.

On the banks of the Trinity River, Sadie Pepperman is looking for a chance to escape the demands of her in-laws. With her husband’s dead, they want her to marry her brother-in-law so they can take control of her farm.

Suddenly, the peace of the day is shattered when her best friend steps too far into the river. Rushing to save her, Sadie meets a handsome stranger that ignites her dormant lust. She sees her friend rescued by a steamship and backs away from Logan Jansen, only to turn her ankle.

The agonizing pain leaves Sadie with the inability to walk. Needing help, she offers Logan a place to stay if he’ll help with the chores on her farm. With his agreement, Sadie adds another problem to her list. Now, not only does she have to worry about how to bring her crops in from the field and run her farm alone but she also has to fight her attraction to Logan.

 Can Sadie end her in-laws’ interference in her life, run her farm alone, and give love another chance?

As a gift to celebrate my new release, you can download "In Deep Water" for free from Smashword by using the code LD34L

Smashword https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/349429

 Blurb for "In Deep Water" 

 Skinny-dipping to cool off in the Trinity River couldn’t cause any problem...could it?

Wading into the water, Carolyn Evans takes one step too far and finds herself neck¬deep in the river and fighting for her life.

After saving Carolyn from drowning, Zack Goodman is trapped in an awkward situation when they’re both rescued by a steamboat and hauled on deck.

Naked and embarrassed, Carolyn is quick to save them from humiliation and claims they are married.

Will Zack release her from her claim of matrimony? Or will he teach her once words are spoken...they are not so easily retracted?

 Purchase In Too Deep at Smashwords or Amazon 

 Have a wonderful day and I hope you enjoy my books,

 Anita

Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way.

Influenced by sci-fi programs, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where erotic moments come to life in a great read.

Naughty or Nice?

Read her books and decide.

Website:  http://www.anitaphilmar.com/

Email: anitaphilmar@yahoo.com

Blog: http://www.anitaphilmar.blogspot.com/

FB: www.facebook.com/anita.philmar

GR: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1329767.Anita_Philmar

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anitaphilmar

Hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Treasure! Stay tuned for more Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!

Until later....take care & God Bless!

PamT