#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jodie Bailey & Tracing Killer Evidence

Good Morning and Welcome to the last Saturday Spotlight of August, 2025!

Can you believe we're heading into the last few months of the year already? 

Me either, but let me tell you it's been an amazing ride so far. 😊

When I started putting this week's guest information up, I wondered... 

"I've known Jodie for years! Why hasn't she been here before?! 

"Je ne sais pas," as the French would say. "I don't know," in English, but I'm sure glad she's here now.

Welcome, Jodie! Please tell us a little about yourself...

Thanks, Pam, I often wondered myself why I never got around to visiting your blog. Thank YOU for having me now!

I am a New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly Best-selling author who writes “soul-stirring suspense” filled with love, faith and intrigue. My novel, Crossfire, was an RT Reviewers' Choice Award winner that was commended for addressing "the stigma associated with mental health services and the military." 

Besides (and above) all that, I am -first and foremost- a mom and Army wife who believes dark chocolate cures all ills. I live in North Carolina with my husband and a lab-husky mix. 😊

Love it! Now tell us about your book, Tracing Killer Evidence and why you wrote it...

Tracing Killer Evidence was such a blessing to write, because it was part of a continuity with other Love Inspired authors. It's always fun to work together, to get to know one another's characters, and to work them into my own story. It's a challenge to look back at prior books in the series and forward to the books after mine in order to wave in the right threads and make sure that we don't wind up with inconsistencies or plot holes. (And yay for the editors at LIS, who are rock stars at keeping everything together and making sure it all flows!) 

This book is about forgiveness, which is something I think we all struggle with. I wanted to look at how God calls us to forgive and to show it at work in a very broken relationship. I always learn so much when I'm writing a "God story," and He is definitely still working on me on that one!

Isn't HE always working on all of us on that?! LOL! Can you give us a sneak peek into the book and where we can find it?

Sure... Here is the blurb...

A string of unsolved kidnappings…A K-9 team out for justice…

Forensic artist Isabella Whitmore narrowly escapes an abduction attempt in the Dakota Badlands, only to find herself targeted by a mysterious assailant. With the help of FBI special agent Liam Barringer and his K-9, Guthrie, Isabella must uncover the identity of her would-be murderer. Is the culprit the elusive kidnapper turned serial killer who’s targeting Isabella because she matches his victim profile? Or has her secret past finally caught up with her? As the attacks escalate, Isabella and Liam must find the truth and stop the danger before it’s too late.

And an excerpt...

A dark sedan had slammed on its brakes in front of them. It had no license plate and no bumper stickers or identifying marks. Other than the make and model, there was nothing distinct about it.

The car didn’t move as Liam backed farther away then slammed on the brakes again a safe distance up the highway.

Isabella slammed against the headrest. She swallowed hard and gulped air, begging God for mercy for her swirling stomach and her spinning head. Begging Him for safety from this relentless assault.

After long moments where the only sound in the vehicle was the three of them breathing, the sedan suddenly gunned the engine and roared away with tires spinning. When it had gone about a tenth of a mile, the headlights and taillights vanished.

“He shut them off.” Liam smacked the steering wheel, then eased the SUV to the side of the road.

“You’re not going to follow him?” Her motion sickness forgotten in her ire, Isabella disentangled her hand from Guthrie’s collar as she threw her right hand toward the fleeing vehicle. “He’s going to get away. We can catch him. We can—”

“And do what?” Liam snapped. “I have no backup. Say he slams on the brakes and opens fire. Say he has an accomplice and lures us into a trap before help gets here. As much as I want to put an end to this, I’m not going to charge into the unknown when I have you in the vehicle with me. You’ve been through enough, and we’ve had too many close calls. This guy is escalating, and I don’t like it. Clearly, he’s fixated on you, and this is more dangerous than we thought.”

Everything in her deflated as a chill wrapped around her. Her body, her mind, her heart…they all went numb.

Liam called Cheyenne and repeated their location and everything that had happened.

Ahead of them, in the opposite lane, several emergency vehicles appeared, lights flashing in the distance, racing closer.

She no longer cared. She no longer felt anything. All she wanted to do was sleep.

The same overwhelming emptiness had engulfed her on the night before her planned wedding, when she’d closed the door behind her father and brother and sank against it, sliding to the floor. That night, they’d demanded she convert her “FBI fiance’” into a patsy for their criminal organization. Refusal meant death for Liam. They couldn’t risk her being married to a federal agent if he wasn’t working for them as well. 

So to protect Liam, she’d left him behind. Where she should have been overwhelmed by anger and grief at her family’s vile demand, she’d felt nothing. The gulf that had opened in her heart was too expansive, and it seemed to swallow her whole.

It was the same now.

It had taken years for her to heal the last time, and part of her still felt like it lived in that abyss. The last thing she’d ever wanted was to feel so dead again, but she was overwhelmed and broken.

She’d lost herself, and the idea that this emptiness could be permanent terrified her more than any killer ever could.

You can find Tracing Killer Evidence at Amazon , at Harlequin.com, and of course your local book retailer that carries Love Inspired titles.

Wonderful, Jodie! Thank you for joining us today. We certainly wish you the BEST of luck and God's blessings for continued success with your writing and life in general. 

Hope you enjoyed Jodie's spotlight friends and that you'll come by weekly to find more great authors and their books. Check out her other titles HERE and find out more about her by visiting her Website.

Until next time, take care and keep reading.

PamT

PS: One of Jodie's backlisted titles is a Keuka Roots' Autumn Reads book! 

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Heidi Glick and Gazing into Darkness!

Well, August is winding down quickly. School has started. Football season is underway and Fall is on it's way. You may have seen Heidi Glick's new book featured in our sidebar, but today we're going to get a sneak peek into the book itself and why Heidi wrote it.

Welcome Heidi! Give us the scoop...

Thanks for having me, Pam. Gazing into Darkness is the first book in a three-book romantic suspense series, Queen City Heroes, set in Cincinnati, Ohio. For several years, I worked for a government contractor onsite at the Cincinnati EPA. Later, I learned about EPA CID agents and decided to write a story about them. The book released on August 12, 2025, from Scrivenings Press and will be available on Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited.

Sounds amazing, Heidi! Isn't it wonderful where our ideas come from? Give us more please...

It sure is! Here you go...

Blurb: Instead of moving closer to his girlfriend, Chance McPherson gets dumped and relocated to Cincinnati—farther from his dreams and closer to his shameful past. Stacey Sanderson is excited to finally secure a role in law enforcement, like the rest of her family, especially as an EPA CID agent, where she can protect God’s creation.

On the job, Stacey’s perfectionism and faith rub Chance the wrong way, while his antics and wisecracks irritate Stacey. When federal employees who worked an old case with Stacey start dying, Chance becomes concerned, and not just because Stacey is his partner. Stacey senses a closeness between them but has vowed not to get involved with men in law enforcement and especially not someone who doesn’t share her faith.

The anniversary of the case is creeping closer. Time is running out. Can Chance and Stacey stop the person who is out to kill her before it’s too late?

Excerpt: A bullet zinged through the front office window but didn’t hit anyone.

“We got to hold them off longer.” Stacey was perched halfway out the window. “I can’t leave you behind. I’ll stay.”

“Could be shooters outside. Just get them to safety. Go for help. We need to contact local law enforcement.”

“Chance ...” Her eyes met his. Long, intense glances passed between them. His pulse raced, and not just from the intense situation.

“Go!” He pushed her out the window, then sighed.

* * * 

Oh my, what an hook! Now give us the scoop on Heidi and where we can find Gazing into Darkness 😊

Thanks LOL! Here is my bio and where readers can connect with me...

Heidi Glick writes romantic suspense and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. She has an eye for detail and includes law enforcement particulars in her stories, grounding the reader in scenes. She’s attended Writers’ Police Academy and the Hancock County (Ohio) Sheriff Citizen’s Academy to ensure accuracy of story details. Though she grew up in Southern California, Heidi now considers rural Northwest Ohio her home. Readers can learn more about Heidi on her Website and connect with her on Facebook, TwitterX and Sluths and Suspects blog.

Gazing into Darkenss can be found at Amazon and directly through the publisher, Scrivenings Press.

Thank You, SO Much, Heidi!

Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new book.

Hope you enjoyed Heidi's visit friends and that you'll stop by each week for Saturday Spotlight and check out our Featured Author, Featured Books in the Sidebar and previously featured Authors, Artist and books on our Archived page.

Until next time take care and give yourself permission to escape into the world of make believe by opening that book you've put off reading, or writing!

Speaking of Writing - A Novel Lunch ™ Beginning Writer's Workshop will kick off again on September 9th! Get the details HERE.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on M. Jean Pike and Superheroes!

Good Morning and Welcome,

It has been a L-O-N-G while since M. Jean Pike visited with us and I'm looking forward to hearing what makes her new book, Superheroes, so special. Will you tell us?

Thanks for having me back Pam!

Superheroes is a story about ordinary people who, empowered by extraordinary love, become capable of things they wouldn’t have thought possible. It is a story about a young man with special needs who dreams of becoming a superhero, about a man whose love for his brother comes at a price he wasn’t prepared to pay, and about the woman whose heart refuses to give up on love, even at the cost of her own dreams. It’s about sacrificial love. Transformational love. Jesus love. The kind of love that steps in when disaster strikes, when faith is pushed to its limit, and courage is the only choice left. It is a story about the kind of love that can turn flawed and broken people into superheroes.  

How Interesting! Give us more Please...

Sure. Here's the Blurb...

At twenty-one, Abby Callahan leaves her parent’s home for a rented motel room in Redford’s Crossing. She has no friends, let alone a boyfriend, so why did she tell her controlling sister she’s bringing a date to a family party? With only one week and no prospects, she needs a miracle.

Rory St. George needs a cashier for the store he manages, and Abby is the perfect choice. When he invites her out, hoping to propose a job offer, she agrees to go---if he will accompany her to a family party. Rory’s plans don’t include a relationship, but he’s drawn to Abby in a way he didn’t anticipate.

A series of misfortunes threaten to end their relationship before it begins. With the odds stacked against them, can their newfound love survive? She’s new in town. He’s from the wrong side of town.

When disaster strikes, can love turn ordinary people into Superheroes?

And an Excerpt...

Rory stuffed his change in his pocket.  A man stepped into line behind him. Two more people came through the door. His window of opportunity was closing fast. He stood aside while Abby sold the man six scratch-off lottery tickets and a case of soda. If he didn’t leave now, he’d be late getting back to work. Go away, Tommy. 

As if on cue there was a crash in the back of the store, followed by a child’s mournful cries. 

“Now what did I say?” a woman bellowed. “Didn’t I tell you not to touch stuff? Look at what you did!” 

Tommy muttered under his breath and went to the back of the store to investigate. Thank you, Lord.

Knowing Tommy would likely be back within minutes, Rory pushed the words out. “Hey, did you hear about the light show at the college next Saturday?” 

“Yeah, I saw a poster about it on campus. It sounds amazing.”  

“So, I ended up with an extra ticket. It’s not the same as an actual meteor shower, but it might be a close second. Think you can get the night off?”

Instead of the smile he’d hoped for, her mouth dipped in a slight frown. “I already requested next Saturday off. But I’m having dinner with my parents at Hannibal House.”

Blooming heck.

He composed his face to hide his disappointment. “Fancy.” 

“It’s their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary,” she explained.

“Ahh.”

“Shoot. I’d love to take you up on the laser show ticket, but I can’t.”

“I get it. No worries.” Now he’d have to think of something else.

“Unless … would you want to go with me? Dinner is at six, and the show isn’t until eight.”

“Oh…”

“Never mind.” She flapped her hands at him. “It would be awkward for you. My whole family will be there.”

Tommy was replacing the mop in the utility closet and Rory was beyond late for work.

“No, it’s cool. We can have dinner with your family first. If you’re sure it’s OK that I tag along.”

“I’m sure,” she said quickly. “Are you sure?”

He shrugged. “Why not?”

She bit down on her bottom lip. Then her face changed, as if something monumental had just occurred to her and she grinned at him. “Great.”

He’d tried to be low key about it, frame it as just a couple of friends hanging out together for the evening. He hoped she hadn’t misunderstood. But why else would she have that thunderstruck expression on her face? Why was she looking at him like he was some kind of superhero? Like he was one of the seven wonders of the world? Like some kind of miracle had just occurred. 

What a Beautiful Excerpt! Now give us the low-down on you and tell us where we can find Superheros...

Sure, Pam, here's my "official" bio and links:

Changing seasons. Unexpected blessings. Love that lasts forever. These are a few of M. Jean Pike's favorite things. With a writing career that has spanned two decades, Jean combines an insatiable curiosity about humans and why they do what they do with her faith in God to bring readers unforgettable tales of life, love, and the inner workings of the human heart. Her short works have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul and the Lutheran Digest. Superheroes is her twelfth novel. 

Find out more by visiting her Web/Blogsite.

Superheroes can be found at Amazon, PBG, B&N, GooglePlay, Kobo and Apple books.

Perfect. Twelve novels is an amazing accomplishment! Thank You, SO much for sharing your book with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessing on all of your work.

Hope you'll check out M. Jean's book, Friends, and that you'll come back each week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

Be sure to check out the books in our sidebar as well as our Featured Author and Teaser Tuesday pages and be on the lookout for Autum Reads in collaboration with KeukaRoots.com!

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Amber Daulton & Lost in His Spiderwebs ~ Lozano Cartel: Book 2

Good Morning!

Back in April, Amber Daulton introduced us to book 1 of  her Lozano Cartel series. Today she shares with us a peek into book 2, Lost in His Spiderwebs. Thanks for coming by, Amber. Tell us why you wrote Lost in His Spiderwebs or what makes it special...

Thanks for having me back, Pam! 

Lost in His Spiderwebs is the second book in the Lozano Cartel series, which follows Rubén Lozano and Drina Cabrera in a second chance dark romance neither of them expected.

Rubén is not a man to trifle with. He’s a ruthless, secretive cartel kingpin who will spill blood to further his end goals. Drina is a widowed mom who lives her life around her job and raising her daughter. These two people have nothing in common, or so it seems. After Drina’s life turns upside down and she finds herself at the mercy of a violent cartel, fate sends the one man she wants nothing to do with right into her path. Yet, Rubén is the only person who can help her.

Readers will first meet Rubén and Drina as supporting characters in Dark Hearts Aflame, book one in the series. Right away, I knew I wanted to explore and develop Rubén’s character and give him his own book, but I wasn’t sure who his heroine would be. After coming up with and discarding a couple of ideas, inspiration finally struck. Drina! She would be perfect for him. I love the opposites attract trope, so I plotted out the story with Drina as his love interest. But something didn’t feel right. At this point in my brainstorming process, Rubén and Drina were strangers when they meet in Chapter One. I didn’t like that. There wasn’t enough emotion or connection between them to satisfy me, let alone the reader.

What was I to do? I stressed over this for weeks, trying to figure out a way to add some pizzazz. Then it clicked. A second chance romance, another favorite trope. What if Rubén and Drina were lovers years earlier? What if he was the father of her daughter, and he doesn’t know it? Those questions whipped through my mind like lightning; I knew exactly what I had to do.

Once I got the beginning of the book figured out, the rest of it fell quickly into place. I had so many ideas, though some of them were cut for better pacing and word count. The final product is an edgy, angsty, erotic story befitting the dark romance genre, and I’m thrilled to share it with you.

Lost in His Spiderwebs is now on preorder and will be live on October 14, 2025. The next book, Corrupting His Wife, is in the draft stage. The Lozano Cartel series will span several standalone novels, so please subscribe to my newsletter or follow my social media to keep tabs on when these books will be out. Until then, add Lost in His Spiderwebs to your reading list. You won’t be disappointed.

WOW, I love it when a story falls into place like that! Please give us a peek into this upcoming release...

Sure! Lost in His Spiderwebs has a heat rating of 5 but here is the blurb and a PG13 excerpt...

The cartel king has finally found his queen.

Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?

Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.

After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them.

When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?

Excerpt: “Smile,” Rubén told her. “It’s showtime.”

She nodded and lifted her chin, wincing a little in the flashing camera lights.

As three hand-picked paparazzi snapped pictures of him and Drina from all angles, Rubén counted to thirty before he steered Drina past them to the music room.

“Wow,” Drina murmured as they passed the piano for the ballroom.

A massive chandelier gleamed from the lofty ceiling, its decorative crystals reflecting the soft white light and dancing spots across the ivory walls and the chattering, laughing guests. The live band played instrumental music at the far end of the rectangular room, where Esme’s team had set up fancy tables and chairs for the speech and dinner portion of the evening.

“Why do you keep this room locked up? It’s magnificent.”

He shrugged. “It’s a bitch to clean.”

His blunt answer steepled Drina’s eyebrows. “My, what consideration. I’m sure the housekeeping staff appreciates it,” she teased and pulled him onto the dance floor alongside several other couples. “Let’s dance.”

As her arms slid around his shoulders, he rested his hands on her waist. Her body heat and strawberry aroma enveloped him. Groaning, he gripped the thick fabric of her dress so hard that it bunched and the band of his rings bit into his skin. She rested her head against his chest, and her hair teased his nose. They swayed, lost in each other as though they were the only people around. A foolish notion, one he shouldn’t revel in. If he did, he would ravage her on the floor.

“You have a good turnout,” she murmured while he twirled her about. She spun back into his embrace. “Are any of these people your friends?”

“Hardly.” This was his world. Glamour, power, prestige. The public mask he wore to hide his sinister nature. “You’re swimming in dangerous waters. The sooner you realize I can buy and discard all these sharks and guppies with a flick of my wrist, the better off you’ll be.”

“I’m well aware you’re king of the sharks.”

He snorted, holding her closer. “You’re a barracuda. Lithe grace and sharp teeth.”

“Ooh, I like that.” She nipped at his chin. “I’ll never be a guppy.”

Damn right. As the song ended, he guided her off the dance floor. Duty called.

Lost in His Spiderwebs can be found on Bookbub, and preordered through Amazon and Other Online Retailers HERE.

Beautiful, Amber! Now how about giving us the scoop on you.

THANKS, here you go...

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Find and Follow Amber on social media via Linktree. Check out her Website: Daulton Publishing and sign up to receive her Newsletter ~ New subscribers get a free eBook!

Wonderful to have you back, Amber!

Good luck and God's blessings on your new release and the entire series.

Hope you enjoyed Amber's post, friends and that you'll come back weekly for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

Until next week, take care, God bless and be sure to check out our Featured Author Page and the Featured Book in our Sidebar.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on LoRee Peery & Shelter in the Night ~ Worship through Verse Vol. 1

Good Morning and Welcome,

Today's guest has been a regular since I started this feature and I am SO please to bring her back! Thank you, LoRee for dropping by with your new book today. Tell us about it...

Thanks, Pam. Writing any kind of poetry was never on my creative agenda.

Rather than dealing with the pandemic lockdown in 2020, I dealt with months of shoulder pain. I had a reverse replacement in June of 2020. The surgeon also did repair on a broken acromion (the flat bone connected to the clavicle) that forms the top curve. I found out later the pins were just “floating.:” So that part of the operation hadn’t worked, and I needed surgery again three months later.

I often awoke in the wee hours around three a.m. with my Bible turned to the Psalms. Psalm 91:1 says He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

He definitely proved to be my Shelter in the Night, thus the name for the first of four journals that I filled during those months.

Those months weren’t the first that I’ve called various waiting places over the years. The conclusion I’ve reached is that what touches my life is according to God’s time, and I’m not meant to ask why. For whatever reason, to build character, patience, or perseverance, that waiting period happened in 2020.

Due to the pain that woke me, I spent those wee hours of many sleepless nights reading my Bible and followed God’s Word by pouring out my frustration and praise through what I called LoRee’s modern-day psalms. Lamentations turned to praise, all with adoration for the Lord God who calls me His daughter, and I filled four journals.

The other titles in the series are Looking Beyond Self, Gratitude for All Moments, and Finding Peace and Strength.

Wow, LoRee, isn't it amazing how beauty comes from ashes? Tell us more please...

Yeah, God's purpose and plan never ceases to amaze me! Read on...

Blurb: Do you ever awaken in the middle of the night, beset by thought of the worries of the day? Do you ever awaken with the feeling that God wants you to pray for someone or some thing? Do you pray, flounder in your prayer or immediately fall back to sleep?

Through the verses of Shelter in the Night, volume 1 in the Worship through Verse devotionals, the author pours out sorrows and joys much like the Old Testament psalmists. Whether you need shelter or reassurance, this collection can bring peace, hope, and solace.

Excerpt

Psalm 127:3

Children are a heritage from the LORD,

offspring a reward from him.

The Master Healer

Where is my faith?

I’m shaking inside, Lord

Sick to my stomach

“All” I can do is pray

You’ve blessed me

With fourteen grandchildren

One was injured today

On the football field

You knew beforehand

He belongs to You

Be with my son and his wife

Be their comfort and strength

May we all turn to You

And receive calm and peace

You are the only Source

Of ease and healing

You’ve settled me down

Reach my family with Your Spirit.

Beautiful, LoRee! Tell us more about yourself and how we can find you...

Sure, here is my "official" bio and links to connect with me!

Nebraska author LoRee Peery is a country woman who writes fiction that hopefully appeals to adult readers who enjoy stories written from a Christian perspective. These include novels and novellas for women and men in the Contemporary, Romance, Time Travel, and Mystery/Suspense categories. 

She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. The book of her heart, Touches of Time based on her father’s unsolved homicide, resulted in personal relief. She is who she is by the grace of God, and has expressed that wonder in four volumes of devotional poetry.

LoRee has been blessed to live in the country most of her life and sometimes agrees with.

Connect with her through her Website, or on Facebook. Find all of her books on Amazon or at Pelican Book Group.

You can also find LoRee's previous visits to our blog HERE, friends!

Meanwhile, be sure to check out our Featured Author Page and Featured Books (in the sidebar).

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Susan Lyttek & Three Impossible Tasks

Good Morning!

July is winding down and Summer is in full swing here in SW Louisiana. Today's guest is brand new to our blog so please give Susan Lyttek a huge, warm, W-E-L-C-O-M-E!

Thanks for visiting with us today Susan, please give us some insight into your book, Three Impossible Tasks.

So nice to be here, Pam! Every series needs an “Empire-Strikes-Back” moment. For the Portal Watchers, Three Impossible Tasks is that book. I planned it as a story to make everything go wrong that could possibly go wrong. It is the story when evil appears to be winning and the good guys fight against despair. To be honest, it was the most fun to write because I could throw whatever at my characters and then figure out how they would deal with it. 

In the dedication to the book, you get an idea of my mental state while I wrote it. Yes, it was fun, but it was intense, too. And it’s my prayer that its intensity reveals to teens and other readers just how strong they are and how much adversity they can survive.

Dedication excerpt: To the two at home who endured my obsessed state while I was writing this: my hubby, Gary, and my son, Karl. I thank Gary for last minute runs for food when I forgot to cook and just being amazing. I love you, honey. I thank my son Karl for helping me come up with horrific scenarios for my characters as well as picking up emergency bubble teas to keep me fortified. You two are wonderful and have no idea how grateful I am.

* * *

Oh how interesting! Give us more please...

Thanks. Here's the blurb and a short excerpt...

With the new ability to create portals, Subja's scientists unleash vicious and ravenous beasts on the population of Telba. Bern, Garth, Ne-tel are each given separate tasks to complete on their own.

Bern must convince Telantia to emerge from the safety of the city and fight for the citizens of Telba.

Garth must take technology from Subja's fortress.

Ne-tel must travel to the Gold Coast to raise an army.

All three must succeed if Telba is to have hope for a future, but even Prophet Nevv says these tasks are impossible.

Excerpt:

Something was seriously wrong. 

Half stumbling, he made it to a narrow portion of the creek. Collapsing next to it, he hurriedly rolled up his pant leg, took off his shoe, and plunged the leg into the cold water. 

The shimmer of water over his leg revealed an eight-legged creature fastened to his leg. He ran his hand over the large white spider and felt nothing. It was as if the spider did not exist. 

And yet. 

He splashed water vigorously over the apparition to remove it. Two red eyes turned to look at him. 

Garth didn’t care if a Vil found him. He prayed that someone could help him. And to vent his fear and his need, he screamed.

* * *

Three Impossible Tasks sounds like a wonderful read, Susan. Now tell us more about yourself and how we can connect with you and where they can find your book.

Thanks, Pam. I hope YA readers enjoy the world I've built for The Portal Watchers series as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

Readers can connect with me through my Website/Blog, Facebook Author Page and Personal Page, GoodReads and on X. 

Three Impossible Tasks can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through my publisher, Pelican Book Group.

My bio is as follows...

Author of the Portal Watchers YA fantasy adventures, Susan Lyttek loves to encourage readers and writers on her blog at sajlyttek.com. Some of her favorite things include going to the gym with her hubby, cruising open highways in her 5-speed manual Subaru, and trying new recipes out on unsuspecting guests.

* * *

Wow, THANK You, Susan for sharing with us today! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.

Thank You friends for supporting Susan today. Be sure and check out the books featured in our sidebar and watch for our upcoming Featured Author page.

Until next week, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Delia Latham and Jaimie Engle & Crossing Cheyenne

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight!

One of our guests, has been here before, (you can see Delia's previous posts HERE). Jaimie Engle is brand new to our blog and these two ladies have coauthored Crossing Cheyenne. Before we get into the whys and wherefores of the book, please share with us a blurb and short excerpt.

Thanks Pam! Here you go....

When a fiercely independent woman and a charming adventurer are double-booked at a remote cabin, their clashing personalities—and beloved pets—lead to unexpected sparks. As they both seek closure from their pasts, a journey of healing and love unfolds, culminating in a powerful reunion with long-lost family and a chance at a new beginning.

Excerpt: “So…lemme get this straight.” The young man smiled, but Cheyenne’s sour attitude saw only the blinding glare of his braces. “You two don’t know each other?”

“Nope.” Cowboy Billy spoke first. Of course.

The guy’s lack of manners did not coincide well with the boots and Stetson he wore like a pro. Weren’t cowboys supposed to be gentlemen and live by a secret code of conduct? So much for looks. She hated to acknowledge his, but she’d be lying if she pretended not to notice.

“Not at all.” Being forced to agree with him upped her frustration to the nth degree.

“And neither of you knew you’d be sharing the cabin with a stranger?”

“You got it, pardner.”

Cheyenne rolled her eyes. “Do I look like I would have let that happen?”

The kid turned almost purple, but did not respond to her sarcastic and admittedly catty question. Blossom must be rubbing off on her more than she realized.

“Well, it’s not supposed to happen.” He frowned, no doubt wishing himself anywhere but at work on this particular day, at this exact time.

“That we can agree on.” Cheyenne tried to shake the frustration that made her less than Pooh-worthy. She pulled out a smile that almost always worked miracles. “I’m sure you can see there’s been a mistake. And you’re going to fix it for me, aren’t you?”

“You betcha.” The poor kid turned his gaze on his computer monitor as if the very essence of life lay therein. Within moments, a grin lit his face. “Aha. That’s it.” He raised a bright green gaze to Cheyenne. “You were supposed to be a party o’ two.”

“That’s correct. But my friend got sick.”

“That’s it,” the clerk said again. “That’s the problem.”

Cheyenne blinked. “My friend getting sick is the problem?”

“Naw, ’course not. But when you called to change the set-up ’cause yer friend bailed on ya—”

“My friend did not bail on me.” Cheyenne surprised even herself with the heated retort. “She got sick.”

“Yeah, okay. Well, whoever changed the reservation for ya assident’ly canceled it.”

“But I didn’t ask to cancel. I just changed my reservation to take advantage of the single-occupancy rate.”

“Same thing, ma’am. Clearly stated on the website.”

“Not clearly enough. That’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?”

The kid continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “So, what happened is, when Mr. Goddard here reached out to book a spot, we showed an opening.” He grinned as if he’d just solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and shrugged one skinny shoulder. “Just a glitch in our system. That’s how come you folks got double-booked.”

Cheyenne couldn’t bring herself to return the kid’s delighted grin.

“Glitch or not, this is not going to work for me. I booked my reservation months ago.”

“Look, my dad and I stayed in this very resort when I was a little boy,” Cowboy Billy interjected. “I booked here for a specific reason. Something personal, and…well, important. Guess I was lucky your friend bailed.”

“She did not bail!” Cheyenne glared. “And you’re just going to have to…” She huffed a sigh and fluttered one hand. “Unbook.”’

With that, the two of them went at it, arguing loudly and without restraint. Guests gathered in clusters, openly staring, and Cheyenne did not care. Apparently, neither did Billy Butt-in, who didn’t come across like a gentleman cowboy in the least.

The clerk managed to make himself heard over their little word-war. “Look, folks, I’d love to solve your problem on account’a y’all don’t seem to be gettin’ on too well, but there’s just one thing.”

“What?” Cheyenne and her cowboy nemesis snapped the word in unison, with greater volume than necessary.

The kid shrugged. “We don’t got no more rooms.”

Don’t got wha—? “Great, Cheyenne muttered.

“And when might you have something?” The cowboy clearly sought to bring about some sort of diplomacy. Wonderful. She was up against a non-gentleman-cowboy politician.

The clerk scrolled through a couple of screens. “Friday is our first opening.”

“Friday is when I check out,” Cheyenne informed him.

“Oh, yeah, you’re right. You are the Friday opening.”

And so it went. A manager showed up to try and help, but the long and short of the situation was that no other openings existed—neither here, nor at their sister resort, nearby. For that matter, not a single hotel, motel, or bed-and-breakfast for miles around had a room to offer.

I wonder if this is how Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn’t find a place to stay the night Jesus was born. The thought came and was gone like a flash of lightning. She couldn’t think about such things at the moment.

Cheyenne continued to appeal to the sympathies of the clerk and manager, but since they weren’t able to manufacture another cabin out of thin air, they could offer no solution. At last, the manager threw up his hands in frustration.

“I’m truly sorry, folks, but I’m afraid your paths have crossed for one reason or another.”

Cheyenne froze.

“Some paths are destined to cross.” A familiar voice—maybe too familiar—whispered the line right into her ear.

***

Wow! I'm hooked. Now please tell us why you wrote the book and a little more about yourselves.

JAIMIE'S WHY:

In 2020, my family vacationed in North Carolina, staying in a charming two-story cabin. I had my dog with me, but an unexpected case of COVID kept me indoors, giving me time to reflect and dream up a new romcom idea. Inspired by the cabin’s cozy setting, I imagined two strangers double-booked in the same space—one with a dog, the other with a cat. At first, it felt like a quirky meet-cute, but I quickly realized their paths weren’t just crossed by accident—something deeper was at play. What if they were both heartbroken, and their time together became a healing journey orchestrated by God?

Brandon, the dog lover, is mourning the loss of his estranged father, whose ashes he’s tasked with spreading in the breathtaking landscapes of Wyoming. Cheyenne, desperate to find the mother she never knew, sets out on a search that leads her to the Midwest. Two souls, each longing for closure, unknowingly find the missing pieces in one another—through laughter, companionship, and unexpected love.

This premise sparked Crossing Cheyenne, and after completing the script, I teamed up with the incredibly talented Delia Latham to bring the novel to life. With her wisdom and insight, she deepened the characters and enriched the story in ways I hadn’t imagined. I can’t wait for readers to experience the journey, and for audiences to see the film streaming in the years to come!

JAIMIE'S BIO:

Jaimie Engle is a multiple award-winning writer of stories with a magic touch. With over a dozen published books, she is an expert in all things storytelling, teaching at national conferences, state libraries, and local schools on writing, publishing, and marketing books. Jaimie’s YA novel “Metal Mouth” was a quarterfinalist in the Book to Film Award, a Kirkus Editor’s Choice book, and received the Publisher’s Book Life Prize in fiction. She was also a semifinalist in the Publisher’s Book Life Prize in non-fiction, a recipient of the Writers of the Future Award, and her screenplays have been semifinalists for Austin Film Festival and Screencraft, to name a few.

She has worked with hundreds of writers to tell their stories, write their books, and adapt their work for film and television development. Jaimie optioned her first feature film “Just Jake” with distribution deal through UPTV Faith & Family Network (2023) and has several of her award-winning tv shows and movies in development with major studios and networks. When not telling stories, Jaimie spends time with her family in Florida, and her two dogs, Ahsoka and Moofart. Fun fact? Jaimie danced at the halftime show of the Aloha Bowl! www.JaimieEngle.com

The Creation of Crossing Cheyenne

Crossing Cheyenne was my first experience writing a story based on an already-completed movie script. Still partially romance—that’s my genre—and still clean, but not faith-based, and not my original brainchild. Instead, I was turning a script, written by the talented and amazing Jaimie Engle, into a novel. 

How in the world did I find myself doing such a thing? (I think I heard someone ask that question…didn’t I? It was you, right?)

Well, funny you should ask, because I love sharing the “why” of this particular story. Here goes—because you asked, of course…

When I “met” Jaimie Engle, I was editing for Vinspire Publishing (no longer in business, but an excellent small publishing house in its day). The owner/editor-in-chief asked if I’d be interested in editing a book for one of her new authors. “It should be an easy edit,” she said. “The author is experienced and talented, with quite a few published books.” But the kicker was that I’d be editing a novel written around the script for a movie that was already released and available for viewing. (If you’re curious, the book and movie are both titled Just Jake.)

Yes, we all knew things were moving a bit in reverse, but what the heck—sure, I’d give it a go. And that’s how I first came in contact with Jaimie. I edited her beautifully written book, we enjoyed working with each other, and then the job was done. Bye, Jaimie, nice meeting you, have a blessed life.

But she contacted me a few months later, asking if I’d write a novel based on a script she’d already written and was in the process of marketing to the appropriate people in the film industry. This time, she hoped to get the book written and released before the movie. Would I do it? (Interesting fact: Jaimie had never read a single one of my 30+ novels/novellas. She asked me to write the book based solely on my editing style.)

Well, the rest is history. Of course I did it, and of course I loved the opportunity to work with Jaimie again. I tremendously enjoyed fleshing out the characters and creating “more” for the story—more scenes, more details, more background…just more. I also loved the humor that came so naturally to Cheyenne and Brandon’s story. Jaimie and I laughingly agreed that what we ended up with is a romcomdram…or something like that. It’s a romantic comedy with enough romance to curl your toes now and then, and that little touch of humor that provides the occasional laugh-out-loud moment. The thread of drama running throughout the book was a joy to write! 

The result, with the combination of our individual strengths, is an honestly strong story that readers will love. I love it too, and will be forever grateful that Jaimie trusted me enough to invite me on board. 

Hey, Jaimie…thank you…thank you very much!

I’d love to hear your take on our unconventionally created story. Grab a copy at Amazon or Other Online Retailers, give it a read, and then share your thoughts on your favorite bookseller and/or review website. I’ll just say thank you now, because trust me, it will be appreciated.

Happy reading!

Delia’s Bio:

A world of romance with a whisper of angels’ wings. You can count on a touch of the divine in DELIA LATHAM’S sweet, inspirational novels and novellas.

An award-winning, best-selling author, Delia has over thirty published novels/novellas and short stories to her credit. She offers editing/proofreading services, as well as book cover and marketing material design. 

Having moved from California to Texas over a decade ago, and there the old CaliTexan couple will live happily ever after.

Connect with Delia: 

Email:  delia@delialatham.com 

Website:  www.delialatham.com

Amazon Author Page:  www.amazon.com/author/delialatham

Facebook Readers’ Room: www.facebook.com/delialatham 

Thank You, Both so much ladies for sharing your story and Crossing Cheyenne with us! Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings with this and all of your projects!

Hope you enjoyed today's guests, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Saturday Spotlight and be sure to check out the books in our sidebar!

Until next time, ditto what Delia said, "Happy Reading!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Angie K Dilmore and Bedtime Lullabayou

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight. Our guest today is brand new to our blog so please give a round of applause to Angie K Dilmore, a hometown author I am blessed to call "Friend." Tell us more about Bedtime Lullabayou, Angie...

Thank you, Pam, I appreciate all you do for authors! Bedtime Lullabayou is a tale written in verse about a boy named Anton who visits his Cajun Nana on a Louisiana bayou. When it's time for bed, Anton has other plans and "hides away", embarking on a bayou adventure and encountering native animals who live on the bayou along the way. Beautifully illustrated by Sulphur artist Stacy Bearden, Anton "hides" on each spread and children are encouraged to "find" Anton, making the story gently interactive. 

The book spotlights a number of French words, phrases, and aspects of our Louisiana culture, such as Jean Lafitte and loup garou. For readers who may be visitors or newcomers to Louisiana and not familiar with the lingo, a glossary is included, as well as a paragraph on nocturnal animals, giving it an educational slant. The magic happens at the end of the story, when Nana sings Anton a bedtime song and the animals join her in a bayou chorus, hence the title, Bedtime Lullabayou.

Enjoy a short excerpt...

It’s bedtime on the bayou,

But Anton wants to play.

Nana says, “It’s time for sleep.”

Anton hides away.

“Come back,” calls Anton’s Nana.

“The bayou’s wide and deep.

Time for little boys to rest,

when sunset falls to sleep.”

Anton knows the bayou well,

From murky stream to lake.

When fireflies flicker yellow,

The bayou creatures wake.

SWEET, tell us more about yourself and why you wrote, Betime Lullabayou and where we can find a copy.

Sure, here is my "official" bio...

Angie Kay Dilmore relocated from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2007. Enchanted with the region’s waterways, flora, fauna, and unique French culture, Cajun muses inspired her to write Bedtime Lullabayou. 

Angie has been writing and editing for various magazine markets since 2000. More recently, this nature lover and award-winning author may be found creating stories from a small camper in a pristine park somewhere. She currently lives in Lake Charles with her husband and two cats.

Find Angie on Facebook, Angie Kay Dilmore, author; or on her website, angiekaydilmore.com

Bedtime Lullabayou is available for purchase at several Southwest Louisiana shops or online at:

https://mascotbooks.com/product/bedtime-lullabayou and Amazon.

Thank You, SO Much Angie for visiting today and sharing your beautiful book with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it and any other books in your future.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Saturday Spotlight and watch the sidebar and navigation bar for special features!

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara M Britton & Defending David!

 

Good Morning and Welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight of July 2025!

Hope your Independence Day celebrations are safe and happy.

Today we bring Barbara Britton back with her book, Defending David, part of her "Tribes of Israel" series.

Thanks for visiting us again, Barbara. Tell us what makes Defending David so special...

Thank you for having me back on the blog, Pam.

King David is a popular Bible hero and recently people have taken a renewed interest in David’s life with the drama “House of David.” Amazon Prime takes a few licenses with Scripture, but viewers tune in to see how a shepherd boy rose to power and became king over Israel.

In my novel “Defending David,” I capture David’s life when it is in turmoil. David is older and his son Absalom is determined to kill his father and claim the throne. David flees Jerusalem like a criminal. David is not fighting with armies or even a sling. David retreats in weakness.

David is still the man after God’s own heart as we read in I Samuel 13:14, and God provides a helper for David. God has a sense of humor because He sends a Philistine exile to assist David. This enemy exile has hundreds of fighting men and is sold out to the One True God. Who is this unlikely hero to David? A man with a fun name—Ittai the Gittite.

I enjoyed shining a light on Ittai and showing how David trusted him during a tumultuous time. Ittai is front and center as the buff warrior who saves an aging king, and he also finds love along the way.

“Defending David” covers a chunk of Scripture in II Samuel, chapters 15-19:8. 

Wonderful! Give us more please...

Sure here's the cover, blurb and an excerpt...

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.

 

Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land. Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

Excerpt:

Stifling a laugh, Ittai surveyed the approach of the closest stranger. Why was anyone traipsing over rock and crevices in the dark when sunlight wasn’t far off? Some men had no sense. How many fools had he encountered in battle? Too many and they were dead. Crouching near a tower of rocks and a spindly sapling, Ittai unsheathed his blade. He breathed in cool air untainted with kicked-up camel dust. His eyes overcame the darkness to rest on a form breeching the top of the hill. 

Sandal slaps. Wheezing. One fool had made it to the crest. Hamuran would cut off the others. 

Nearer and nearer the climber came. Ittai swallowed. The sour taste of bile pulled his jaw tight. 

Lord, give me victory. 

The man stumbled over a rock and whimpered. 

Ittai lunged. 

He grabbed the stranger and pulled the thin frame taut to his chest. His knife rested against the flesh of the prowler’s neck. 

“Stay silent, or I will send your head thumping to the dirt.” 

His captive turned to stone. Trembling stone. 

A swell of breast rose and fell beneath Ittai’s arm. No stench of sweat or body odor offended his nose. This quivering climber smelled of scented soap even after a trek up a hill. An abundance of soft curls tickled his chin. 

He’d caught a woman. 

What was a woman doing out at night? In the wilderness? In his arms? 

He eased his blade from her neck. “I mean you no harm. I am not a foe. I will release you if you keep your voice low.” 

She nodded ever so slightly. A tiny whine escaped from her lips as if she were agreeing to his demand in earnest. 

He loosened his hold but kept her upright with a commanding grasp of her arm. A crazed or enraged woman could do harm. He had learned that in the most difficult of ways. He gave her enough slack to turn and face him in the shadows. 

“Help me,” the woman rasped. “Men are chasing me.” 

Securing his weapon, he kept his gaze centered on the gleam in her dark eyes. 

“They mean to cut out my tongue.” Her chest rose and sunk like the sea. “And sell me as a slave. My father is not a thief.” 

The woman’s eyes blinked without rest. He had only seen someone so undone under two circumstances—when he told his mother he was going off to war, or in war, when a man was pleading for his life. His mind became a fog of memories. His calm, tranquil night had been set ablaze.

AMAZING! I remember how much I enjoyed reading Defending David. Get your copy on Amazon (FREE in KU), you won't regret it!

Barbara M. Britton writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. She also authored a WWI Historical set in Alaska and created Christian romances set in Tennessee. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books on her website, barbarambritton.com, or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Hope you enjoyed Barbara's visit today folks and that you'll check back every week for another Saturday Spotlight. See Barbara's other spotlights HERE.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Amanda Uhl & Healing Kiss

Good Morning from San Angelo, TX.

My honey and I drove up from Bandera yesterday for drag boat races and we'll be heading out Monday morning toward NM. But enough about me.

Today's guest is brand new to our blog so please give Amanda Uhl a huge W-E-L-C-O-M-E!

Thanks for visiting with us today, Amanda. Please tell us a little about Healing Kiss and why you wrote it...

Thank You, Pam for inviting me to be in your spotlight. My inspiration for writing my paranormal romance, Healing Kiss, stems from a profound personal experience I had at a baby shower. My older sister had invited me to help out, and, being unfamiliar with the guests, I struck up a conversation with a stranger—a young woman at the event. As we delved into the topic of the paranormal, I shared some of my past experiences, including a curious ability I had to draw energy from someone’s arm and hand, causing it to feel numb.

Intrigued, the woman asked me to hold her hands. Once I did, I closed my eyes and was immediately met with a vivid vision: an orange light pulsing around a shadowy form. As I breathed, the light became more vibrant. Thinking that perhaps I was alone in this experience, I eventually released her hands and opened my eyes. To my surprise, she looked at me dazed and remarked, “Wow. It felt like someone hugged me.”

Two weeks later, I learned the incredible outcome of our encounter—this woman had been trying for years to conceive without success. After our meeting, she discovered she was pregnant and excitedly called my sister to share the happy news, insisting, “It was your sister who held my hands that made it happen.”

This remarkable incident inspired Healing Kiss. In the first chapter, when I portray the heroine’s attempts to heal her sister, I draw heavily from this authentic experience.

Oh My Goodness, what an incredible story! Give us more please...

Yeah, the memory still gives me goosebunps. Here are the blurb and an excerpt for Healing Kiss...

To save her dying sister…

Lillian Milano channels energy from the healthy to heal the sick, which makes her an incredible nurse. But her gift puts Lillian and those she loves in danger from an organization that will stop at nothing to exploit her talent. When her sister becomes gravely ill, wealthy computer genius Tristan King is the one man with enough vitality to save her sister’s life. But being near him threatens to expose her secrets and destroy the walls she’s built around her heart.

She bargains with a billionaire.

Tristan doesn’t believe in the supernatural and is wary of emotional entanglements. But his beloved mother is dying, and his lying ex-fiancée won’t leave him alone, so he strikes a deal: In exchange for his help, Lillian must pose as his date for a hospital fundraiser. As the pair work together to save their loved ones, they confront a spiraling web of secrets that threatens their growing feelings for each other. The choices they make will either destroy their lives or heal their hearts.

Excerpt: Lillian glanced at the woman, who stopped in front of Tristan. She had high cheekbones and long red hair pulled into a sleek ponytail and wore a navy dress with an open neckline and cream-colored heels. Something about her polished, model look made Lillian suspect the woman was used to attracting attention.

The woman placed a slim hand with French-manicured nails on Tristan’s chest and removed a piece of non-existent lint from his black shirt. Tristan’s expression didn’t change, but somehow Lillian sensed his laser focus. Whoever this lady was, she was important to him.

Now was the perfect time to make her escape. Lillian took a step, but a long arm snaked around hers, pulling her backward, so she nearly tumbled into him.

He caught her, his hands snagging in her hair. “Not so fast.” Tristan smiled down at her, softening his harsh features. He winked, the movement so quick, she might have imagined it.

He turned to the lady. “Hello, Angelina.” Tristan’s sounded bored. “The fundraiser is still on. I only came to visit a friend. I’m heading out now.”

Angelina ignored Lillian, leaning in close to whisper in Tristan’s ear and giving him a good frontal view of her chest. Lillian could only imagine what she said. A promise of what might happen after the party?

Tristan wrapped his arm around Lillian’s shoulder and tucked her into his side. He smelled of the sea and something else, something otherworldly, something magical, like tall evergreens under a full moon in a fierce winter snowstorm. He tilted his head and angled his face toward hers. His dark-blue eyes were the night sky, swallowing her whole.

My God, what was happening?

And then she felt it. It began where his fingers grazed her arm, traveled along her spine, caressed sensitive nerve endings, and ignited a shivering, shaking, blazing trail through her entire body. White-hot scorching energy lit the space between them. His warm breath caressed her skin.

So energetic. So thrilling. So full of life.

Lillian stood transfixed under the enchanted spell he cast. Excitement curled and unfolded in her veins. She’d found a burner—the term her mother used to describe someone with immense vitality. Someone with so much natural power, he vibrated with it. Someone who could cure a room full of invalids if he’d let her.

Someone she could use to cure Hannah.

Wow, wow, wow, what a thrilling excerpt! Please tell us a little more about yourself and where we can find you and Healing Kiss.

Award-winning author Amanda Uhl has always had a fascination with the mystical. Having drawn her first breath in a century home rumored to be haunted, you might say she was "born" into it. After a brief stint in college as a paid psychic, Amanda graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre and a master's degree in marketing. Over the past twenty years, she has worked as an admissions representative and graphic designer, owned her own freelance writing company, and managed communications for several Fortune 500 companies, most recently specializing in cyber security and data. Amanda is an avid reader and writes fast-paced, paranormal romantic suspense and humorous contemporary romance from her home in Cleveland, Ohio. When she's not reading or writing, you can find Amanda with her husband and three children, gathering beach glass on the Lake Erie shoreline or biking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Visit her online at www.amandauhl.com and follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amandauhlauthor.

Healing Kiss can be found at Amazon and Other Online Retailers including Kobo, GooglePlay, Apple, etc., HERE.

Well, wish I'd realized last year I was in your neck of the woods, Amanda, I'd have sure tried to look you up.

Thanks Again for visiting. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with Healing Kiss.

Hope you enjoyed Amanda's visit as much as I have, friends and that you'll drop by every week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight. Be sure and check out the featured book, Austin's Ambition by Susan Anne Mason in the sidebar!

Until next time, happy reading.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Lucy Naylor Kubash and Chance's Return

Good Moring Friends!

Today's guest is brand new to our blog, so please give Lucy Naylor Kubash a warm W-E-L-C-O-M-E.

So glad you could join us, Lucy, please tell us something about your book, Chance's Return...

Well, Pam, the story goes something like this... Once upon a time a little girl loved horses, westerns…and cowboys. The fascination started when she and her dad watched Saturday afternoon movies with heroes like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and the Lone Ranger. In those days, a lot of westerns filled the airwaves on TV, and as she grew older, the girl graduated to Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and the Virginian, where cowboy heroes and their horses were larger than life. Eventually, the girl grew up and read romance novels with—you guessed it—cowboy heroes, buying into the whole cowboy myth that has been a big part of American entertainment. Writing her own cowboy hero story just seemed a logical next step. And so, she did. 

I’m pleased to announce Chance’s Return, a contemporary western romance set near the Grand Tetons, was released on April 16 by The Wild Rose Press. It’s the first book in a trilogy, The North Star Legacy, after the McCord family’s ranch, the North Star. The books are full of family drama, people learning to live with and rise above past mistakes and tragedies, and of course, romance. I’m hoping readers will want to learn about my cowboy hero, the McCord family, and the woman who changes their lives.

Here is the blurb for Chance’s Return...

Widowed single mom Casey Girard hopes time in Wyoming will help her recover from a tragic loss. Working as a cook at the North Star ranch for the summer offers an opportunity to start life over near the beautiful Grand Teton Mountains.

 Ex-rodeo champ and prodigal son of the North Star, Chance McCord returns to face a family still divided by their own painful past. To overcome the estrangement, he needs to find a way to face his own haunting memories.

 When Chance and Casey meet, the attraction is undeniable and blooms like the blue lupine in the valley. But can they learn to put their pasts to rest and trust one another so love can grow?

And an Excerpt...

Clutching their packages, they sprinted to the café two doors down and hurried inside. Casey glanced about the bustling Hitching Post. A lot of other folks had the same idea. 

Dishes clattered and voices were raised as the overwhelmed servers filled orders for the mob of tourists that, with the advent of the storm, had descended on them. 

Casey didn’t see a single empty table or booth.

“Room only at the counter, honey.” A harried server jerked her head towards the lunch counter.

Casey saw the two empty seats, one on either side of a tall, broad-shouldered man. His hat and faded denim jacket said cowboy, and he looked intimidating, even with his back turned.

She was reluctant to ask him to move over, but being on her own had forced her to fend for herself and do things she never thought she’d have to do. With only a second’s hesitation, Casey marched up to the counter and smiled. “Could you please move down one? All the other seats are taken.”

For a minute, she didn’t think he’d heard. He remained hunched over the full-to-the-brim mug of coffee that sat steaming on the counter in front of him. He hadn’t made it to the café in time to avoid the downpour. Rain darkened the faded denim jacket, and his battered, equally wet, black cowboy hat tilted low over his forehead, shadowing his face. He seemed totally withdrawn from the bustle of the café around him.

Casey cleared her throat to speak again and found herself looking into eyes the same color as the moody sky above the mountains. With the chary gaze of a lone wolf, the man stared from beneath the hat brim. He needed a shave, and his dark hair curled just above the collar of his jacket. In one glance, he took her all in, from her pink running shoes and skinny jeans to her green-and-white college sweatshirt. His gaze lifted and dwelled on her face. She shifted from one foot to the other. A crazy rush of warmth flooded her from her toes to the roots of her ponytailed hair.

“Hey, can we sit down?” Jamie asked. “I’m really hungry.” 

The fact he’d eaten lunch only a few hours ago didn’t seem to matter. Lately, Jamie was hungry all the time. 

The boy’s remark did the trick. 

A smile crinkled the man’s tanned face. “Sure enough, partner.” He stood just long enough to hoist himself over to the next stool. 

Jamie scrambled up beside him.

The man pulled the brim of the boy’s hat down over his wavy blond hair.

Scrunching his nose, Jamie tipped his head back and gave the stranger the once-over. “You a cowboy, mister?”

Casey poked her son. “Jamie, hush. Don’t ask a bunch of questions now.” In three weeks’ time, Jamie had also lost a lot of his bashfulness. Simply too many people lived at the North Star ranch, and too much happened for him to remain shy for long. But no doubt this guy wouldn’t appreciate a kid’s questions. When it came to cowboys, Jamie was an avid fan, and anybody who dressed like one became instant hero material. In spite of his friendly gesture, this particular cowboy didn’t look interested in being a little boy’s hero.

“It’s okay, ma’am. I don’t mind.” He winked at her. 

That sort of masculine wink could do strange things to one’s equilibrium. Casey snatched  the plastic-covered menu and stared at it, although, unlike Jamie, she wasn’t a bit hungry.

Wonderful, Lucy! Tell us a little more about yourself...

Lucy Naylor Kubash has been writing for most of her life. She began her career writing short romance stories for Woman’s World magazine and now writes contemporary romance for The Wild Rose Press. Lucy has penned a column, The Pet Corner, for nearly 25 years, that advocates for homeless pets and animal rescue. She lives in Michigan with her husband of 53 years where they enjoy spending time with their two grown children, an assortment of pets, and traveling whenever possible. 

Find and follow Lucy at the following social mediat sites...

Website: http://lucynaylorkubash.com

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

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lucykubash_author

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lkubash/

Amazon:  https://tinyurl.com/2t4k6x7j

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2966398.Lucy_Naylor_Kubash

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-naylor-kubash

Blue Sky:  https://bsky.app/profile/lucynaylorkubash.bsky.social

Thank You, SO much, Lucy for sharing with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your debut novel!

Hope you enjoyed Lucy's vist as much as I did, friends, and that you'll check back each week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

Until then, take care, God Bless and Happy Reading.

PamT