#SaturdaySpotlight is on Katherine Willson & The Price of Power

Good Morning and Welcome to the first edition of Saturday Spotlight of March 2026! Where has time gone?! I mean, seriously, wasn't Christmas just the other day? 😆

As I mentioned last week, one of my greatest pleasures with this blog is hosting brand-new-to-me authors and we have another one today.

Kathrine Willson, author of The Darington Files and the Phantom of the Opera-based series A Tale from the Darkness, writes character‑driven historical  fiction that combines realism with believable and relatable characters. 

Welcome, Katherine! Please tell us about The Price of Power...

Thanks, Pam. I'm excited to share with you, The Price of Power, a slow‑burn romantic suspense set in 1960s Los Angeles, blending police procedural grit with emotional depth, where loyalty can be lethal and the truth always comes at a cost.

Here's the Blurb: Katherine Butler buried her fiancé three years ago—and with him, the future she thought she’d have.

When she’s asked to reopen Jack Tierney’s death, Katherine expects answers. What she doesn’t expect is betrayal, corruption, and the unsettling realization that Jack may have been killed by his own brothers in blue.

Assigned to oversee the investigation is Captain Justin Darington—Jack’s closest friend and the one man Katherine never allowed herself to think about. As the case exposes a deadly conspiracy within the LAPD, Katherine and Justin are forced into an uneasy partnership where trust is fragile, attraction is dangerous, and the truth carries a body count.

With her career, her safety, and her heart on the line, Katherine must decide how far she’s willing to go for justice—and whether she can risk loving again in a world where power wears a badge.

And an Excerpt: She looked up again. “Seven different bullets submitted for testing, four different weapons submitted including Jack’s. Four bullets extracted from victim… match none of the weapons surrendered for testing. And three do.”

“Okay,” Dare said, setting his cup on the desk. “So, whose weapons do we have a match for?”

She frowned as she glanced up. “Beecher, apparently.”

“Does it say if it was the fatal—?”

“It was… not. It says here that it was extracted from the left scapular region.”

“So… Beecher could have been behind Jack when things hit the fan. A shot goes wild in the panic and confusion and he hits Jack in the shoulder.”

“The other bullets extracted from the victim,” she continued, “were right thigh, left knee, one in his abdomen, and…”

“And?” Dare prompted.

She looked up again. “The other two rounds were extracted… from center mass. His heart.”

“His heart?” Dare grabbed the autopsy report and flipped pages. “Heart… ruptured. Catastrophic damage.”

She swallowed. “The shots exploded his heart.”

Dare leaned back. “He was ambushed.”

She shook her head. “He was set up.”

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES ARE...

Shadow of Suspicion     Murder on Mulholland    Murder at the Museum

Wonderful, Katherine! Now please tell us a little more about yourself and where we can find you and your books.

Thanks again for having me Pam. Here is my official bio and links...

Kathrine Willson, author of The Darington Files and the Phantom of the Opera-based series A Tale from the Darkness, writes character‑driven historical  fiction that combines realism with believable and relatable characters. In The Darington Files, her work focuses on flawed institutions, moral ambiguity, and the personal cost of pursuing justice, their work explores what happens when loyalty collides with truth—and when the past refuses to stay buried.

Drawing inspiration from mid‑century Los Angeles, classic noir, and deeply researched investigative detail, the series centers on complex protagonists navigating power, corruption, and connection in a world where doing the right thing is rarely simple.

When not writing, the author can usually be found researching obscure historical details, chasing chickens with her grandson, or mapping out plot points with her partner in crime (solving), her mom.

Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram or GoodReads.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:

A Tale from the Darkness Series (Based on Phantom of the Opera/Phantom reimagined)

A Tale from the Darkness;  Raising Gustave;  Son of the Phantom;  Phantom of Normand; and

Angel of Music

All books can be found at Amazon for Kindle (FREE in KU) and in paperback.

Wow, THANK You, Katherine! We are so glad you joined us today and wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on all of your work.

Hope you enjoyed today's guest, friends and that you'll join us weekly for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care, God bless and Happy Reading.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Dakota McGraw & Testing the Waters!

Good Morning and Welcome,

One of my greatest pleasures in hosting Saturday Spotlight on this blog is to introduce to you a brand-new-to-me author and our guest today is one of those! Thanks for joining us, Dakota, please tell us about your book, Testing the Waters...

Thank You for having me, Pam. Testing the Waters is an Espionage/Spy/Multicultural/Suspense Romance with an action rating of 5+ here is the blurb...

Brenda Jackson is no stranger to danger—but when her boss offers her the chance to go international as a spy, it’s a whole new world. Tasked with taking down an opium and human trafficking ring, Brenda steps into the shadowy underworld of espionage with a new partner—Terrance Blaine, a grizzled MI5 operative with a reputation for cold precision.

As they chase leads across multiple countries, sparks fly between Brenda’s fierce determination and Blaine’s brooding authority. They’ll have to navigate deadly threats, uncover a web of international corruption, and survive each other’s temperaments. But when betrayal hits too close to home, Brenda’s skills and resolve will be tested like never before.

Fast-paced, sharp, and filled with tension, Testing the Waters is a thrilling ride of action, espionage, and a partnership that could either save them—or tear them apart.

AND an Excerpt: Later, in the training hall, things escalated. Blaine wasn’t about to let the pistol stunt slide.

“Gunplay’s one thing,” he said, tossing her a judo gi. “But let’s see what you do when someone’s trying to choke the life out of you.”

Brenda smirked, catching it. “Careful, old man. You might not get back up.”

They squared off on the mat. Blaine came at her hard and fast, fists precise, his military training ingrained in every strike. But Brenda wasn’t just holding her ground—she was countering with uncanny timing, sliding into the space between his punches, anticipating the arc of his elbow before he even swung.

She’s reading me, Blaine realized, tightening his jaw and clenching his fists a little too hard. Every feint, every shift of his weight, she was already there. Not reacting—predicting. No civilian cop should’ve been able to do that, yet here she was, moving like she’d been in his head long before the fight began.

He pushed harder, throwing combinations sharp enough to break down most opponents, but she slipped past them, like she knew where he’d be before he did. This isn’t just training—it’s instinct. God help me, it’s beautiful.

Oh my goodness, sounds amazing! Now please tell us why you wrote Testing the Waters, where we can purchase it and find out more about you...

Sure!

I wanted to create a series that features over-the-top characters—imperfect, flawed, yet able to rise to the occasion when it matters most. My goal was to keep readers guessing about who the real "bad guy" is and challenge the typical hero's journey. I wanted to explore the complexities of Blaine, the ultimate alpha male character who, despite being the brooding, chauvinistic, "tough guy," has deep vulnerabilities and cracks in his character. And the twist? He meets a heroine who not only brings these vulnerabilities to the surface but is the only one he trusts enough to show that side of himself. This makes their dynamic unique—a push and pull where strength and vulnerability coexist, creating tension, excitement, and, of course, a deeper emotional connection.

Testing the Waters is the first book in the series, and I have never had more fun writing than with this one. I’m already in love with Terrance Blaine, the main character. He’s everything I wanted in a hero—strong, complicated, and with enough cracks in his armor to make him real. I can also relate to Brenda. She’s the strong woman who can hold her own against Blaine (and he hates it at times, but at that same time he loves it), but knows how to use her feminine charms to knock him off balance when the time is right. It’s the perfect blend of power and subtlety, and I’m really enjoying how their dynamic plays out.

On top of the character dynamics, my personal travels around the world have been a major influence in shaping these stories, and I’ve always wanted to write about my travel in some form and fashion, and this series is perfect for that.  I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some truly exotic locales. These travels allow me to incorporate vivid settings into the book, bringing an authentic atmosphere to the narrative. The diversity of cultures, landscapes, and challenges I’ve encountered have helped create rich, adventurous environments that feel both real and thrilling, adding an extra layer of excitement and intrigue to the plot.

The Blaine and Brenda series promises to have twists and turns, action, a bit of romance, and never a dull moment. I love going wild with these characters, putting them in crazy, dangerous situations and seeing how they get themselves out of them. Each book is an adventure—one I can’t wait to share with readers!

You can purchase Testing the Waters at Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, OR directly from my website, where you can find more about me and my books, and see what’s Coming Soon! Be sure and follow me via the social media links there!

Wonderful, Dakota!

We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with this new series.

Hope you enjoyed Dakota's visit with us friends and that you'll check back each week for another Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time read happy!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Patti Archer & Bloodline!

Good Morning!

It is always my pleasure to bring to you a brand new author and today's guest is just that! Patti C Archer is a member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles and she's here with her brand new release, Bloodline, book 1 in her Louisiana Secrets series. Please give her a huge W-E-L-C-O-M-E!

Secrets on the river...

FBI Special Agent Dakota Nash was sexy. Gorgeous. Native American. And a brilliant profiler who was undercover in Lake Charles, Louisiana – watching Gabrielle Sawyer.

 

Gabrielle was beautiful. Stunning amber eyes. Long dark hair. Long and lean. But she was alone. Afraid. With scars. Secluded on the Calcasieu River on purpose. But she was skilled – with knives. And she was better than good.

Dakota was ready for the danger coming for her. Deadly secrets on the river. Killers. All because of who she was. But Gabrielle was adopted at three, her ancestors a mystery, so she didn’t know who she was - or that she held the only key to a 200-year-old secret.

In hours, Dakota and Gabrielle would meet face-to-face. For the second time. He had saved her once before. This time, on the run from killers – steamy attraction, intimacy, passion, love, and romance would LIGHT THEM UP despite the danger that hunted her.

Gabrielle learned that some things were worth fighting for. Love for one. Legacy the other. And Dakota stood guard. Warrior on deck. He would save her. She was his.

Excerpt:

Gabrielle noticed the men and women seemed to pair off instead of staying in a group. Sean and Samantha headed toward the dock. Zoe and Trace headed to the front porch. And Adam and Jade stayed on the patio.

Dakota touched her arm and said, “Walk with me?”

She smiled, and said, “Sure,” and they walked toward the barn.

Once inside, they leaned against the fence that faced the corral where the horses grazed.

He gently bumped shoulders with her, and said, “I like you being here.”

She glanced at him with a teasing smile, and said, “Yes. Dinner was wonderful.”

He said bluntly, “I’m not talking about dinner.” He turned her to face him, and said, “I’m talking about us. And don’t tell me you don’t feel this. I won’t believe you.”

She felt it. Silent, she let the look in her eyes answer.

He leaned closer and kissed her neck. He let her feel his warm, soft lips. Then he breathed her in, and whispered, “I’m going to kiss you.”

Feeling herself get swept up in the whirlwind of wanting this, she warned him, “I…I never do this. I haven’t kissed anyone in a long, long time.”

Sliding his hands up her back, he said, “But I’m not just anyone.”

“But...”

“Kiss me, Gabrielle.”

She looked at his mouth, and her lips parted. He kissed her. And she couldn’t believe the feel and taste of him as their mouths met.

Patti was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, surrounded by lakes, rivers, and bayous. She loves the Cajun culture and cuisine and is always ready for a road trip to the Gulf of Mexico or other scenic areas. Family, faith, reading, writing, and research fill most of her days. She loves the holidays, movies, and dreams of living in the mountains.

She published her first novel in June 2022. Her next novel is pending publication in January 2023 – Book Two of the Louisiana Secrets Series.

You can follow her blog at PattiArcher.com or at Amazon.com/author/patticorbelloarcher.cajunlady.

Thank you SO much, Patti for sharing your new release with us! We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in all things.

If you love hot, steamy romantic suspense, friends be sure and check out Patti's books.

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Alicia Dean @Alicia_Dean_ !!

Good Morning Friends and a Blessed Day to you ALL!

Tomorrow I'm heading out for a camping trip. We'd planned on going up to the lake in March/April until this Covid crap shut the parks down. They re-opened last week so off we go. Never fear though, Saturday Spotlight will still go on.

Today's guest has visited with us often in the past, so please welcome Alica Dean back as she shares some words with us on family relationships.....

This past weekend, I was in Grand Prairie, Texas visiting my daughter (Lacey) who moved there over a year ago. The weekend was extra special because my other daughter (Lana) and my son (Presley) were there as well. I rented an Airbnb, and my son stayed with me. My middle child, the one who lives in Texas, hung out with us all weekend. My eldest daughter was only there for the evening on Saturday.

Want to know what was so special about it? (Besides the fact that it rained all weekend, which is perfect weather in my opinion, and my children feel the same…yes, we are odd. LOL!) My oldest and youngest child have been estranged from my middle child, and we hadn’t all four been together in at least a few years. Lacey is an addict. She’s thirty-four, and we have been through hell as a family because of her struggle with addiction. Thank God, she is clean now. Has been for just over a year. It took some time for her brother and sister to come around. They were afraid to trust that she’d really changed. I can understand that. She’d manipulated us so many times before, and we ended up having our trust betrayed, over and over. As a mom, I could never turn my back on her. I tried to practice tough love from time to time, but I couldn’t really release her to the wilds and take a chance on her ending up dead in the streets. It was difficult, but I’m glad I hung in there. There was a time I thought I’d lost her, but she’s good now. All three of my kids are good now. I heard a saying a while back… 

“A mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child.” I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a truer statement.

If you’re going through something similar, don’t give up hope. But please don’t enable, either. I’m afraid I did my fair share of that, which likely only prolonged her drug usage. An addict or an alcoholic usually will not get help until they’ve reached rock bottom. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s so true. It takes literally having no other choice and them knowing they will die if they don’t get clean and sober. If you are going through this, I’m sorry. Stay strong and, if you believe in prayer, pray. There is always hope. This is a pic of my three children, but not from this weekend. I didn’t even think to take pictures, but I wish I had. I’ll be sure to take some next time. :-)

Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. 

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite televisions shows like Ozark, The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia Here:

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

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

Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_

Instagram: AliciaDeanAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alicia-dean

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Alicia's latest release, Precarious, part of the Martini Club 4 1940's series, along with the other books in this series - Pampered by Kathy L Wheeler, Perilous by Amanda McCabe and Priceless by Krysta Scott can be purchased at Amazon.

SO happy everyone got to spend that quality time together, Alicia! Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and be blessed.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Alicia Dean & Precarious!

Good Morning Friends,

I hope this day finds you happy, healthy and prosperous.

Today's guest has visited us numerous times but please give Alicia Dean a huge, warm, WELCOME back with her latest release, Precarious, Martini Club 4 ~ The 1940s.

Boston ~ 1947
Iris Taggart should be ecstatic.  She’s engaged to one of  the wealthiest men in Boston, and he dotes on her. But, her marrying a rich man is her mother’s dream, not hers. Iris longs to be a nurse and care for others, and she’ll never have the career she wants if she marries a Boston Blue Blood. It just isn’t done. 

Dante Morello returned from WWII a war hero, and now he’s a Boston detective working the South End Slayer case where a deranged killer is butchering the poor and homeless. Dante’s investigation leads him to reconnect with Iris—a girl he’s known most of his life—who is volunteering at the soup kitchen where the murderer finds his victims. When Dante learns Iris is in the killer’s sites, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, and not just because she’s woken something in his heart he thought he’d never feel.

But neither of them is prepared for how precarious life can be. When secrets are exposed, and a madman’s full intent is revealed, will their love…and their lives…be destroyed?

Excerpt:

Dante stood and rolled down his shirt sleeves, then slipped on his jacket, not bothering to straighten his tie. “Hello, Iris. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Y-yes.” She held something tightly in her fists and shoved it toward him. “I-I found this.”

He peered at the object—a woman’s scarf, which looked as though it had been dragged through a tar pit—then lifted his brows. “And?”

She drew in a deep breath, her breasts rising with the action. He forced his gaze back to her face. “I found it at the clinic.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets, waiting. He’d offer her a seat, but then she might stay all day, rambling on and on about whatever popped into her pretty head. On one hand, that sounded like the perfect way to spend his day. On the other, he had a killer to catch.

“The bastard left it there for me.” She didn’t apologize, or even flinch, at her use of the curse word. She thrust the scarf out again, and this time he took it. “Have you heard any news? Any new victims? It belongs to Alma Vernon. She’s dead, isn’t she?” The sentences fell on top of one another. Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. “Mercy me. I don’t understand what’s happening.”

Dante tightened his fist around the scarf, battling the rage rising inside him. “How well did you know Ms. Vernon?”

“I saw her frequently at the kitchen. Then, a few days ago, she had a seizure, and I treated her.”

“Morello!”

Shannon’s shout drew Dante’s attention away from Iris, and for a moment, he was peeved at the interruption. Although she was bearing potentially disturbing news, seeing her lovely face was a balm to his soul.

“What is it?”

“We got a report of another victim.”

“Dammit to hell.” Dante shot a look at Iris but didn’t apologize for his language. He was damned well frustrated and feeling more incompetent each day. He said to Iris, “I’m sorry. I have to go. We’ll talk later.”

She nodded. Her lovely blue eyes swam with unshed tears, and her lips trembled. He wanted to stay, to hold her and comfort her. It was obvious that the killer was either fixated on Iris, or working his way through victims until he got to her. Either option opened a cold pit of fear in his chest.

Oh, Wow! What an excerpt, Alicia! Where can we get a copy?

Precarious, along with the other books in this series - Pampered by Kathy L Wheeler, Perilous by Amanda McCabe and Priceless by Krysta Scott can be purchased at Amazon.

Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. 

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite televisions shows like Ozark, The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia Here:

Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

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

Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_

Instagram: AliciaDeanAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alicia-dean

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Great! We certainly wish you and the other authors the best of luck and God's blessings with this and your other series.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. Be sure to leave a comment and enter into my monthly gift card giveaway.

Until next time take care, stay safe and be BLESSED!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on David Arp & ORB

Good Morning!

Well hard to believe this is the last Saturday Spotlight in April 2019 - where has the time gone?

Alas, my prayer is that your year has been and continues to be filled with blessings.

David is no stranger to our blog. He's shared thoughts with us twice, been in our spotlight and given us a glimpse of what he treasures. Today he's giving us a peek into his latest release, ORB so please welcome him back.... Take it away David!

Billionaire oilman Cole Blackwell hired former Marine and Iraqi war veteran, Wes Hansen, to hunt down the man who assaulted his daughter. Wes has a name, Meshach, and one witness, a dog Wes believes the man used as a prop to walk the streets of Lubbock, Texas, at night, unquestioned. Wes’s business card reads PI, not ghost buster. To put a face to Meshach, find him and put him away, Wes will have to be both. Before the week is done, Wes and his team will be lucky to survive meeting the Man from Fire.

Excerpt

Bubba took a deep breath. “OK, first, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a longer list of coincidences strung together on one case in all my life. Either you or Cole or both of you must be living right. Second, you need to bring the authorities in on this. I’m going to finish these shrimp, which won’t take another five minutes. The water is boiling. Then, I’m going to make a phone call. I’ve got an FBI agent in mind.”

“What are we looking at, Monday?”

“Oh, no, tomorrow, a meeting bright and early in the morning in New Orleans. The sooner the better because if Risa or I didn’t warn Meshach, and we didn’t, I can promise you that whoever did has access to some high level databases.” Bubba turned his attention back to the steaming pot on the stove.

Wes had made the right decision being open with Bubba. His friend was in the clear, but he felt a sense of foreboding instead of relief.

Who could monitor private web exchanges, phone calls and e-mails, find out who looked for whom, and pinpoint their location right down to the hotel they stayed in? He answered the question as quickly as it formed. Only four agencies he could think of had the ability: the Department of Homeland Security, the NSA, the CIA, and the people Bubba wanted Wes to meet with in the morning.

ORB is available from Pelican Book Group and Amazon.

David Arp was born in Arizona, raised in Texas, and lives in Colorado with his wife of 32 years. He’s 61, but has only spent half of the past 40 years at home. The other half he traveled and worked the oilfields of the world, from the deserts of the Middle East to the vast oceans offshore. He has three children and six grandchildren.

Find out more about David and his writing by visiting his website and connecting with him on FaceBook. And check out his YA novel, Me and Jake written under the pseudonym Boo Riley available now from Pelican Book Group and Amazon in Ebook and Print!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll visit often to see what's happening on our blog!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with David Arp

Good Morning!

Dave is not a stranger to our blog. He visited back in 2017 with VB Tenery and their book, Against the Odds, shared thoughts and the spotlight as Boo Riley about his book Me and Jake and shared treasures again last month, so please welcome him back once again! Take it away Dave....

Pamela, again, thanks for having me.

When I was a kid, my dad would walk out of the house and I would ask him where he was going. He’d say, “Crazy. Want to go?” I always did, but to him that was a figure of speech, or a way to be humorous. I never got to go crazy with him.

Before long I had my own family, and one day, when my oldest daughter was four of five, she asked me where I was going, and I said, “Crazy. You want to go?” 

“Yep,” she said.

We lived in Montana, in the mountains, so she tagged along as I went outside and cut firewood or changed the oil in my pickup or mended fence or whatever, I forget. When I finished, I headed inside, and she stopped me and said, “Dad, I thought we were going crazy.”

“Honey, that’s just an expression.”

“Dad, I want to go crazy,” she cried.

Well, you told her you were going somewhere, but you never left the house. To her, crazy is a place. She feels like you did when you were a kid. I loaded her inside my pickup and we drove around. So happened that I had a bag of Smarties. I love them. I gave her some. She stood on the seat next to me—yes, this was back when a kid could do that in the mountains, even ride in back—and ate her candy.

“Is this going crazy?” she asked.

“This is going crazy,” I said.

She nodded and smiled and held out her hand for another little roll of candies. We drove around aimlessly for 20 minutes or so and returned home. She told her mom that she went crazy.

We went crazy a lot in the coming years. Whether driving or walking or horseback riding or camping, and we always had Smarties to hold us over while we were gone. Sooner than I expected, this young lady was in high school in Switzerland. She graduated and joined the Marine Corps, married a Marine and had two little girls of her own. When they got out of the Corps, she and her husband bought a house nearby.

One thing she and I really looked forward to was hunting season. We go horseback. I took her the first year she was old enough, and we couldn’t wait to go again now that they lived closer.

Opening morning dawned cold and windy. Horses were fed and saddled. We checked our gear, placed our rifles into their scabbards and mounted. I had a packhorse in tow and led the way out of camp, into a large meadow. Wind makes the horses flighty. They were fresh, ready to go. My packhorse was being a knucklehead. We finally lined out and my daughter rode up next to me. I looked at her. She looked at me, grinned, and handed me a Smartie.

I love to go crazy.

How funny, David and what a precious memory. Thanks for sharing.

David Arp was born in Arizona, raised in Texas, and lives in Colorado with his wife of 32 years. He’s 61, but has only spent half of the past 40 years at home. The other half he traveled and worked the oilfields of the world, from the deserts of the Middle East to the vast oceans offshore. He has three children and six grandchildren. 

His new release, ORB is available from Pelican Book Group and Amazon.

Find out more by visiting his website and connecting with him on Facebook. 

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll drop by regularly to see who's doing what on our blog!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with David Arp!

Good Morning!

Still in SC today but we're heading to south FL tomorrow. Never fear though, this (blog) show will go on LOL!

Last year I introduced you to David Arp when he shared some thoughts and our spotlight. Today David returns to share treasures with us and info on his new book, ORB.

Welcome back Dave!

Thanks for having me, Pamela. This is the second time you’ve been so gracious.

My dad used to ask me what I was up to. I would answer with whatever it was at the time. If it

involved money, he asked if I spent wisely. Well, of course, in my mind it was wisely. My teachers used to tell me to spend my time in class wisely. That advice went in one ear and out the other and the truth be told, one glance at my grades would have told that story about my study habits quickly enough. I thought more about how I spent my money than how I spent my time. Time goes whether it’s spent wisely or not. Money can be saved, but like time, once spent it’s gone forever.

I mentioned on my personal blog not long ago that I was going to start looking forward to my 90^th birthday celebration. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here anymore than the next person does, but at least time will slow down. Looking back does nothing to the perception of time. We tend to do that as we age. Look back I mean. I don’t think I’m alone in that respect.

Time spent with God and family and friends is time well spent. My kids. My grandkids. My brothers. My cousins. My friends.

Treasures are in memories, yours and theirs.

Many a man has passed from this life leaving millions of dollars he would have gladly spent on more time.

PS: the young lady on the horse is my 10-year-old granddaughter who did a free-style reining pattern to the song Footloose. For the encore, she had her horse perform and 20’ slide then a flat spin in the middle of the arena. When she jumped up in the saddle and danced the crowd went nuts and her mother nearly passed out.

Wow, I think I would pass out too but BRAVO for her! Thanks for sharing your treasures with us Dave.

David Arp was born in Arizona, raised in Texas, and lives in Colorado with his wife of 32 years. He’s 61, but has only spent half of the past 40 years at home. The other half he traveled and worked the oilfields of the world, from the deserts of the Middle East to the vast oceans offshore. He has three children and six grandchildren. 

His new release, ORB is available from Pelican Book Group and Amazon.

Find out more by visiting his website and connecting with him on Facebook. 

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Howard Levine & Last Gasp

Good Morning!

I'm headed out to Bandera, TX (my home away from home) this morning but before I go, I have the pleasure of introducing you to brand-new-to-me author, Howard Levine with his book, Last Gasp.

I discovered Howard on my friend Jacqueline Seewald's blog and am so glad he could be in our spotlight today so please give him a huge WELCOME!

Howard Levine is the author of one previously published novel, Leaving This Life Behind.  He is a retired teacher of special education and English as a second language. Before his first public school teaching position—at a high school in the Bronx, NY—he taught Transcendental Meditation, which he still practices regularly.  Howard now lives in suburban Washington DC, where he hikes, bikes, and writes.  He and his wife volunteer at a soup kitchen and a senior citizens center. Find out more by connecting with him on Facebook.

Frank Tedeschi’s niece is dead, one of thousands of victims of a terrorist attack, which has been laid at the feet of “Islamic radicals” by a right-wing US government.  Frank, based on a chance encounter, is one of the very few people who question the government’s explanation.  He is a Vietnam veteran who wants nothing more than to live without further controversy or conflict.  Can he and his grieving brother Rob, a detective with the NYPD, obtain the necessary evidence to uncover the truth, in the face of scorn and incredulity?  Can they overcome their long-term estrangement to work together, given that they are putting their lives in danger? 

 In LAST GASP—a novel that resonates with today’s politics—the answers to these questions unfold in a way that mingles personal and societal issues and intertwines the past and present while moving relentlessly forward.

Excerpt:  “She would’ve come for the calamari, if nothing else.” Rob, eyes shut, sipped from a wine glass, his thick fingers wedged between its flat round base and the reddish-purple curvature of the bowl, which he squeezed as if holding the thing together. “She loved the stuff,” he added, looking up from the goblet, his voice hoarse. “For that, she would’ve come.”

Julie reached across the table and laid her hand on his arm. “She’d have come anyway.  She could’ve compared notes with her cousin over here. Compared studs and tattoos,” Julie said, ignoring the look her younger son shot her as he leaned forward on the other side of Frank. “Plus, even if Laureen acted like it was uncool, she loved her family. Starting with her parents.”

Rob gritted his teeth and looked away, thinking that he either needed to lay off the wine or get soused, that he was now inhabiting a dangerous middle ground. Tears in your beer, only substitute wine in a glass that seemed to magically refill itself, to siphon bittersweet vin rose from the carafe. Either the bus boy was very unobtrusive, or Rob was transfusing the stuff himself without really being aware of it.  

He couldn’t have sworn that Laureen loved her parents, separately or together. Ditto for her extended family. Still, it was Laureen, ironically, who’d brought all of them together. For the second time in a month, no less. They could have left out a glass of wine for her, left the outside door ajar, like the Jews did on Passover. Except that there was even less chance of Laureen showing up than there was of the Prophet Elijah draining the Manischewitz. Besides, it was cold out and they were in a restaurant. The place was crowded, noisy, probably bug-proof, assuming that the so-far anonymous federal spooks even knew that the Tedeschi clan was dining there. And it was a setting much preferable to that of the previous family get-together, Cascardi’s Funeral Home.

Last Gasp can be found at Amazon (Kindle) & Barnes and Noble (Nook).

Howard has a book signing this afternoon, but please leave a comment and he will check in ASAHP - THANKS!

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Casi McLean & Beneath the Lake!

Good Morning Friends!

I'm off to the first Mardi Gras parade of the season....well my first anyway. It's that time here in SWLA so if you're visiting or just passing through take time to catch a few beads.

Today's guest is new to our blog and she visits today with her latest release, Beneath the Lake a PG13 rated, time slip, romantic suspense, book.

Award winning author, Casi McLean, pens novels to stir the soul with romance, suspense, and a sprinkle of magic. Her writing crosses genres from ethereal, captivating shorts with eerie twist endings to believable time slips, mystical plots, and sensual romantic suspense. Beneath The Lake won the 2016 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for BEST Romantic Suspense.

Her stories entwine strong, believable heroines with delicious hot heroes to tempt the deepest desires then fans the flames, sweeping readers into their innermost romantic fantasies. Ms. McLean weaves exceptional romantic mystery with suspenseful settings and lovable characters you'll devour. You'll see, hear, and feel the magical eeriness of one fateful night. You'll swear her time travel could happen, be mystified by her other worldly images, and feel heat of romantic suspense, but most of all you'll want more.

Find out more by visiting Casi's Website Facebook Page  GoodReads Author Page  Amazon Author Page  and Blog and following her on Twitter!

Now let's find out about Casi's book, Beneath the Lake....

A ghost town submerged beneath Atlanta's famous man-made Lake Lanier reportedly lures victims to a watery grave. But when Lacey Montgomery's car spins out of control and hurtles into the depths of the icy water, she awakens in the arms of a stranger, in a town she's never heard of--34 years before she was born.

When the 2012 lawyer tangles with a 1949 hunk, fire and ice swirl into a stream of sweltering desire. Bobby Reynolds is smitten the moment the storm-ravaged woman opens her eyes and, despite adamant protest, Lacey falls in love with a town destined for extinction, and the man who vows to save his legacy.

Threatened by a nefarious stalker, the wrath of bootleggers, and twists of fate, Lacey must find the key to a mysterious portal before time rips the lovers apart, leaving their star-crossed spirits to wander forever through a ghost town buried beneath the lake.

Excerpt:
Lake Lanier, Georgia—June 2011

A final thud hurled him backward, flailing through brush and thickets like a rag doll. Grasping at anything to break momentum, Rob’s hand clung to a branch wedged into the face of the precipice. Spiny splinters sliced his skin. Blood oozed and trickled into his palms, and one by one, his fingers slowly slipped.

A sharp crack echoed through the silence of the ravine as the bough succumbed to his weight. He plummeted into free-fall. Clenching his eyes, he drew in a deep breath, terrified of the pain, the mauling that waited on the jagged rocks below.

When icy water broke his fall, the chill kept him from losing consciousness. He spun, straining to see, but darkness enveloped him. Soggy clothing pulled him deeper—deeper into the murky, fathomless depths. He wrestled to squirm free from the waterlogged jacket dragging him down to a watery grave, watched the coat disappear into black obscurity. Panic gripped his stomach, or was it death that snaked around his chest, squeezing, squeezing, squeezing the air, the life from his body? Lack of oxygen burned his lungs, beckoning surrender, and a shard of rage pierced his gut as reality set in. He lunged upward with one last thrust and burst from the water’s deadly grip, gasping for air. A gurgling howl spewed from the depths of his soul and echoed into silence.

Sunlight shimmered across a smooth, indigo lake, but aside from the slight ripples of his own paddling, nothing but stillness surrounded him. He floated toward the shore, sucking deep breaths into his lungs until the pummeling in his chest subsided. When he reached the water’s edge, he hoisted his body onto the soft red clay and collapsed while the sun’s warmth drained the tension from his body.

No one knew he had survived. The rules had shifted. Now he could reinvent himself, become a stealth predator. His target: Lacey Madison Montgomery.

OH Wow, Casi! Where did you come up with the premise for this book?

I love to talk about Beneath The Lake, and the eerie lake lore that inspired my muse. A town that time forgot––the history and creepy stories attached to a rural area that sleeps beneath Atlanta's famous man-made lake, Sidney Lanier, fascinated me. Homes, churches and businesses still linger beneath the surface. The moonshiners of the 1940's added built-in suspense, and the birth of NASCAR. Looper Speedway, a half-mile dirt track where bootleggers competed with their souped-up cars, exposed its cement stands in a recent draught.

There's a Lady of the Lake who haunts the ghost town too––the spine-chilling lore is the basis for book three in my Beneath The Lake series, Between The Shadows. Some say she lures victims to her watery grave. The truth is, swimmers get trapped among the deadfall of sheered-off trees and town remains. Even expert divers get tangled beneath the murky surface, hence the lake's unnerving label: Lanier never gives up its dead. The inspiration swirled in my mind, begging for a story to be told. What a perfect setting for my romantic time-slip suspense series.

Why time-slip? Ever since my childhood imagination discovered Madeleine L'Engles, A Wrinkle In Time, the idea of time travel intrigued me. And Lake Lanier, a man-made lake with mesmerizing history, presented a plausible theory. What if the excavation explosions triggered a seismic shift? Given enough energy, could the blasts rip a portal into a different dimension or a crack in time? The possibilities were endless.

The birth of Lacey Montgomery evolved through my young adult love for Jude Deveraux's A Knight In Shining Armor. The time-slip novel introduced her endearing Montgomery family. I hope my books honor her inspiration. My high school friend, Hilary Johnson, inspired the persona of my heroine, Lacey Montgomery. A lawyer, discouraged with defending criminals, yearned to help honest people in trouble. Some of Hillary's finer qualities became part of Lacey––the dysfunctional relationships came from my own personal experiences. LOL. Once these elements entwined, Beneath The Lake blossomed with an energy and life of its own.

The sequel, Beyond The Mist, picks up where the first story ends incorporating two minor characters as the new hero and heroine. Beyond The Mist is complete, in editing, and will be published in a few months.

For a Free Gift, and a chance to win my entire short story collection, Destiny: Five Novelettes With a Twist, click here: https://spark.adobe.com/page/pxekfzj8Rx4el/

If you enjoyed the blurb and excerpt, watch the trailer too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwOqm8DUUfA

Purchase Beneath the Lake at Amazon.

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT