I got my first horse when I was six, and grew up riding bareback throughout our small Minnesota town year around. It was like giving a child car keys! I’m now living my childhood dream–a place in the country, three horses, two goofy border collies, and six fluffy barn cats–a much smaller menagerie than when our kids were still at home.  Visit my blog below, sign up for an e-newsletter, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and LinkedIn. Please keep in touch!

Author Leigh Bale Blogs about Wild Horses

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

by guest blogger Leigh Bale
Read on to the end, for a chance in a drawing for a FREE BOOK!

Howdy from Nevada!  Today, I’d like to chat about wild mustangs.  I have a new book available from Harlequin Love Inspired titled HEALING THE FOREST RANGER.  The story is centered around the wild horses that live and run free here in Nevada.  I’ve tried to tackle a very difficult issue about whether or not the wild horses should be rounded up and moved off the land when they become too numerous to support their herds with food and water.  The heroine is a forest ranger who loves the horses, but views this dilemma from an ecological perspective.  The hero is a medical doctor and former prisoner of war and a wild horse advocate who thinks the mustangs should be left alone.  The horses serve as a metaphor for the struggles the main characters are dealing with in their personal lives.  A very poignant read I hope you’ll enjoy.

My father is a retired U.S. forest ranger.  When I was young, he’d take me with him to go out and check on “his wild horses,” as he called them.  The picture below shows the mustangs living around Cherry Creek, Nevada.  One time, we got between the stallion and his herd of mares.  He was furious with us.  He screamed, reared, and charged the truck.  I was very glad to be safely inside with metal doors to protect me.  We quickly moved out of the way, but I’ll never forget the wild beauty of that stallion.  The opening scene to my new book is based on that encounter.

Did you know you can adopt a wild horse?  The Bureau of Land Management can assist you with this endeavor.  If you aren’t able to adopt, you can get involved in many other ways.  Check out their website for more information.

That said, I’d like to randomly give away several copies of this heart-warming new book today.  What is your favorite color for a horse?  Have you ever ridden a horse before?  Do you own a horse?  Do you like horses?  (There is no right or wrong answer to these questions.)    :)

Here’s a link  to the BLM’s wild horse adoption program:

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram.html

And here is Leigh’s latest book!

Healing the Forest Ranger
Love Inspired Books
Leigh Bale

Rancher to the Rescue ~ When a wild mustang threatens someone’s life, rancher Cade Baldwin springs into action. But he’s not pleased when he sees the beautiful woman he’s saved is the town’s new forest ranger. Lyn Warner is determined to round up the wild horses Cade loves so much. But she’s also the woman who makes him smile like no one else. After her husband died in a car crash, Lyn turned her back on her beliefs and focused all her attention on her injured daughter. But Cade’s strong faith and steady love might be exactly what they all need to create an unbreakable family.

Leave a comment or a question for Leigh, and you’ll be automatically entered in a drawing for a copy of her new book!!

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Kiki Mama … author Collette Cameron

Posted on May 1, 2013 by

Guest blogger Collette Cameron

I’m a dog lover—have been one my whole life. I literally cannot remember a time I have not had at least one dog sleeping with me. I’ve a particular fondness for dachshunds—I currently have five.Now, I adore my doxies, all of them, but there was one who died last October after eating a dried apple wrapped chicken jerky treat that connected with me in a way only one other dog ever has. That dog was also a dachshund.

Kiki was supposed to be my daughter’s dog, but as puppies and dogs sometimes do, especially doxies, she decided who she was going to belong to. And that was me. She was so trusting, at times I feared for her. She had absolute faith in me. She’d be sitting up on her hind quarters on the sofa arm, and if I put my hands out, she’d fall backwards into them.

If I had a bad dream, Kiki always knew, and she would crawl out of the covers and lay her head across my neck to comfort me. She was happiest lying on her back in my lap or trying to give me kisses. Kiki acquired the moniker  “Mama” after delivering three litters of puppies. I was with her during each birth (each on my bed) and she’d gaze into my eyes, with her sweet chestnut colored ones, trusting me to help her. Her last birthing was terrifying; two breach pups and one I had to revive, literally mouth to snout. To the vet she went. I couldn’t endure another birthing.  Kiki was so attached to me, that she was torn between sleeping with me at night, and staying with her newborn puppies. My solution? To put the pups’ bed on mine.

Hubby spent a few weeks on the couch, bless his heart.

Kiki was a “fluffy” dog, and I shared many giggles with my family when she’d sit up and her rolls of fat stacked up on her bum and back. Hey, you have ten babies and see if your girlish figure returns!

I rescued a mini dachshund puppy from a puppy mill last November, one month after Kiki died. Ayva is adorable but her personality is entirely different than Kiki Mama’s. I’m glad. As much as I love the Ayvagator as we call her, Kiki has a special niche in my heart. She’s been gone five months now. I have her picture on my refrigerator, so I can see her sweet face every day. We buried her in our backyard, and I planted tulips and a rose on her grave. Yes, she has a headstone. I still tear-up thinking about her. I told my daughter the measure of our grief when we lose a loved one is in direct proportion to how much they loved us, not by how much we loved them.

I’d like to add a word of caution to any other dog owners out there. Please do not feed your dog any kind of chicken jerky treat. The chicken comes from China and is known to be contaminated with toxins, but until the FDA determines exactly what the contaminate is, it won’t remove the dog treats from the market. I have legislatures in my state pursuing this, and they have contacted people in Washington D.C. Don’t take my word for it. Do an Internet search and look for dog treat poisonings. At last count, over 1000 dogs had died and thousands more had become ill from eating the contaminated treats.

And here is Collette’s new book release– Highlander’s Hope

Not a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, the Viscount Sethwick, hasn’t dreamed of the beauty he danced with two years ago. He’s determined to win her heart and make her his own. Heiress, Yvette Stapleton, is certain of one thing; marriage is risky and, therefore, to be avoided. At first, she doesn’t recognize the dangerously handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London’s docks, but Lord Sethwick’s passionate kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on matrimony. On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, Ewan draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits Scottish law, declaring her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony. Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding, though she never said, “I do.” Will Ewan’s manipulation cost him her newfound love?

Book URL: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/meet-collette-cameron/highlanders-hope-by-collette-cameron/
This is not a “buy” link.

 

Collette’s  Links:
Web site: http://collettecameron.com/
Blog: http://www.blueroseromance.com/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/collettecameronauthor
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/collette.cameron.5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Collette_Author
Google+: https://plus.google.com/?gpsrc=gplp0
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/collette-cameron
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/colletteauthor/
Soul Mate Publishing Author’s Blog: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13595899-collette-cameron

 

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Life as a veterinarian’s wife: lots and lots of cats!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

by guest blogger, Christian author  Christa Allan

When my husband brings his work home with him, it usually has four legs and doesn’t leave.

He’s a veterinarian, and I live in constant fear I’ll turn into one of those crazy cat ladies. You know, the ones who have to move their cats to find their furniture. Or who can’t go out in public because all their clothes are layered with so much cat hair they look like cats themselves.

We don’t have the menagerie people expect us to have. Though my husband will stop on any road, almost anywhere to rescue a slow-crossing turtle. We’ve limited ourselves to cats. Well, my husband has limited us to cats because I’ve nudged him for a dog for years.

I grew up in a dog family; he grew up in a cat family. As a dog-person, I was totally unprepared for the household havoc cats can wreak. They can reach heights beyond my comprehension. I’d find them on top of the kitchen cabinets or peeking from behind one of the tchotchkes on top of the bookshelf. They’re also capable of smushing their bodies into something resembling an oblong pancake to worm their way underneath something or into a furry hotdog to squeeze through something.

Our first cat, Edison, was rather persnickety and preferred Ken over me. Which, since I was still new to being a cat-person, was actually not a problem once I discovered how much hair he left behind. Edison arrived at our house after some high school girls found him in the street after he’d been hit by a car. He was a wee kitten then, and one side of his little head still had black marks from the tires. He lost part of one paw, Ken sewed him back together, and brought him home.

Monkee followed, a small black female, brought home because, well, quite frankly, she was weird. If anyone made eye-contact with her, she’d blast off in the opposite direction. It was only after Edison died from a mouth tumor that Monkee became more social. She truly mourned Edison. She’d mew and mew until, eventually, she resigned herself to his being gone.

In the meantime, he’d brought home another kitten because she was, he said, “Nice.”) Of course she was nice. She knew she had a ticket to a house!). Even as a kitten, she spent more time leaping than walking. So Ken named her Amelia, as in Amelia Earhart.

When Monkee started her decline, I worried more about my husband than the cat. He would give her fluids daily, and hand-feed her, and do whatever he needed to do to make her comfortable. One day, Ken came home to find Monkee’s still little body in her small cat crate, and before I arrived home from school, he’d buried her next to Edison.

We thought Amelia would be a companion for Monkee, but she became my companion instead. She was the first cat who actually curled up in my lap instead of Ken’s.  It was rather surprising and unexpected. Amelia became my writing and grading papers buddy. When she’d spot me sitting at the kitchen table, she’d either stretch herself on top of the papers I needed to grade or curl up in my lap while I typed.

Amelia, loves to hide in drawers, especially the ones in my office where I keep my copy paper. When necessary, she’ll occupy the cabinets where I store, you guessed it, the crystal.  She’s also an expert under-the-bed hider. Ever try to capture a cat while it’s playing boomerang under the bed? It’s a prelude to head injuries and back wrenching.

I actually don’t remember how Newton arrived at our house. It’s likely Ken thought Amelia needed a friend. Not so much. Even today she’s not so crazy about him. He, on the other hand, adores her.  Unrequited love is painful to watch even in cat world.

And, our newest addition is Harrison. Ken had started working at the Animal Shelter, and he was part of a liter that had been dropped off at their door (not uncommon). They were all sick, and Ken nursed them all back to save them from being euthanized. When he was a tiny kitten, I went to work with Ken one day and placed him on a surgery table while I walked to the other side of the room to turn on a light. I walked back, and he’d disappeared. Then I heard this faint “meow” that sounded more like a question. Somehow, he’d managed to make his way to the end of the table and fall into the empty plastic trashcan that was there. He’s still quirky and cute. In fact, his favorite toy is the sink dish drain. We don’t get it either.

Almost everyday Ken sends me photos of woebegone kittens that make their way into the shelter. I told him if he didn’t stop, I’d start sending him pictures of golf clubs.

And here is Christa’s latest release!

THREADS OF HOPE
Abingdon Press, Quilts of Love Series
Released March 2013

Passed over for promotion and dumped by her boyfriend, Nina O’Malley is further frustrated when her editor assigns her one of the “soft” stories she despises—covering a gala benefit supporting the AIDS Memorial Quilt. More determined than ever to prove she deserves a promotion to the NY office, Nina decides to write a series featuring a local quilting group raising money for AIDs research.

At the event, she runs into her high school nemesis: Greg is a widower and the adoptive father of Jazarah, an HIV positive girl from Ethiopia. Unlike Nina, Greg has faith in a loving God, and he trusts in God’s plan for his life. Greg and Nina grow closer, and as Nina interviews the quilt families, she begins to question the choices she has made and her lack of faith. Nina suddenly finds herself facing two possible dreams, two paths for her life.

“Christa Allan has created realistic characters that can get into your heart and under your skin.  Nina has many opportunities to serve others, to make a difference in others’ lives through her writing…and what does she do?  Well, I can’t tell you or I’ll ruin the story, but suffice it to say, there are a few nail biting moments toward the end of the story.”  Review from Window to My World

Twitter:   @ChristaAllan
Facebook: Christa Allan, Author
Website/Blog:Http://www.christaallan.com

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Explosive Secrets, Valerie Hansen, and bomb sniffing dogs.

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

by guest blogger  Valerie Hansen

I used to raise purebred Newfoundlands and love the breed dearly, but now that I live in the Ozarks of rural Arkansas, that dense coat is impractical – for me and for the dogs – so I’ve begun adopting rescued Labrador retrievers. What a joy! And a challenge, since the ones I’ve brought home have been traumatized.

That’s actually one of the emotional problems I had to deal with when writing the bomb-sniffing dog in EXPLOSIVE SECRETS, my Love Inspired Suspense in the “Texas K-9 Unit” series. I felt so moved while putting that book together, I went out and adopted another lab. That poor little thing didn’t even have a name, let alone any TLC while growing up, so she was afraid of everything when I first brought her home.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. My first lab was a year-old chocolate male who supposedly had a name but didn’t recognize it, so I started calling him Charlie Brown. He sure acted like the comic strip character. What a clown. And how he needed love.

When I got him his jaw was broken and healing crooked, he was afraid of anyone’s feet and long objects like a baseball bat, and there was a wide, bare scar running down the middle of his back from his shoulders to his tail. That never did get hair on it so in the summer I do a comb-over on his butt! Really.

 Charlie and I bonded immediately but training took a bit longer. (as you can see from the upset pots on the floor in one of these photos.) He was as wild as a 75 pound pup and his idea of play was to grab my clothing and yank until it tore. Yet, within a few months, he was doing much better and has turned out to be a real gentleman at the age of 14.

 

When we brought two-year-old Lucy home she feared everything except old Charlie, which was a real boon to all of us. She had no name, either. Naturally, since it fit with Charlie Brown, I started calling her Lucy. The wise old dog taught her the boundaries of the property and she caught on quickly. As for her fear, it’s slowly dissipating, although she’s still afraid of shooting and other loud noises.

Now, though, instead of running away, she heads straight for me or the house looking for protection from the big, bad world. While I’m working she lays mostly under my desk, giving my ankles a lick once in a while as if to thank me for providing sanctuary.

 

Because I needed to keep Lucy close while I was winning her trust, she and Charlie both got to spend a lot of time in the house, a practice which has continued and pleases us all. They also walk with me in the pastures and woods behind the house, yet always keep me in sight so I don’t have to worry about watching them. I taught them to do that by hiding a few times. After that, they began watching me so closely I can’t escape!

Together, we go out every morning to feed a couple of feral kittens that live in an old abandoned cabin on our property. I’ve managed to gentle one of them enough to let me pet it but I’m still working on the other. Charlie, however, stands very still and those kittens rub against his front legs as if he was their mama.

EXPLOSIVE SECRETS
Love Inspired Suspense
Valerie Hansen
April, 2013

In EXPLOSIVE SECRETS, Nicki Johnson is pregnant, all alone, and the target of murderous thugs through no fault of her own. Former soldier and K-9 officer Jackson Worth and his bomb-sniffing dog, Titan, come to her rescue more than once. Moved by her plight, Jackson vows to stand by this beauty and her unborn child no matter what. Because it’s the right thing to do. And because guarding her has left his battle-scarred heart open to the possibility of love. Which changes everything.

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A strange visitor…who won’t leave!

Posted on April 10, 2013 by

A week ago, I went out to do my horse chores.  Came back inside for breakfast.  Opened the sliding glass door curtains in the kitchen–and found a truly unexpected visitor staring at me:  a peacock!

Or, to be more precise, a peahen.  Not so glamorous as her male counterparts, mostly white and gray, but with some iridescent green and blue feathers at the back of her neck and the funny little row of feathers on top of her head.

Assuming she was someone’s beloved pet–as there are no wild peacocks here in Iowa–I first tried to catch her, but she quickly marched to the far end of our deck and hopped up on the railing, ready to flee.   I hoped to keep her temporarily safe, so I backed away and began calling neighbors.  Sure enough, she had been purchased by a woman who lives a half-mile away…who’d intended her as a mate for her lovelorn male, Reggie.  This gal apparently wanted nothing to do with the life of raising little peacocks, so she literally flew the coop and has resisted all efforts to catch her…as well as the faint, haunting calls of that male peacock that echo across the valley between our house and her owner’s place.

Since she has apparently decided this is her new home, I’ve started calling her  Mable.  Mable spends her nights at the very tops of the trees in our yard, and looks like a big turkey up there.  When she flies up to roost, she’s  like a slow, heavy B-52 taking off.  By day, she peers in our sliding glass doors–perhaps admiring her reflection, or imagining that the reflection is another peahen.  She also stands on our garage roof so she look  into our kitchen through a set of high windows (see the photo above.) She pecks on the glass with a rat-a-tat, eats from our bird feeders, but still can’t be approached.  I feel so sorry for her today, out in the rain.  I wish she would go home to her nice dry coop!

Anyone have some ideas on catching a flighty peahen? :)

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Rita finalist Missy Tippens, on Becoming a Grandmother

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

Becoming a Grandmother
By Missy Tippens

Yes, I know Roxanne features pets on her blog. So why did I title my post Becoming a Grandmother?  Well, because I now have a granddog! And I’m absolutely crazy over him. His name is Tucker, and we’ve been enjoying dog-sitting for the last two weeks.

Tucker has really been a blessing. The first time we had him with us for an extended visit, our 13-year-old lab named Libby passed away. Our 11-year-old dog Duke had been with Libby since we brought him home as a puppy. He always stood at the door and whined anytime Libby was gone (on a walk or to the vet). I feared for Duke and how he would react to losing her.

But Tucker was here to help with the grief, to keep us all busy, and to help ease Duke into life without his constant companion. I truly think Tucker helped prevent the depression some animals can suffer when they lose another pet they’re close to.

So now we have Tucker in our lives. My son, who lives 2 hours away, got Tucker from a pit bull rescue, and he’s the sweetest, most precious thing! I’m now officially a picture-toting, doting grandma. :) I can’t begin to imagine what a joy it’s going to be to have human grandbabies someday!

Thank you for indulging me and letting me share a few photos today. Do any of you have grand-dogs or cats? Or do you have a new pet you’d like to talk about?

We all just heard on Tuesday:
MISSY IS A  FINALIST IN THE INSPIRATIONAL CATEGORY of the Romance Writers of America Rita awards!  Being nominated for this national award is a tremendous  honor–think of it as the Oscars and Academy Award of writing!    And Missy’s latest book is available now!

Georgia Sweethearts
Love Inspired
April 2013
by Missy Tippens

A Pattern For Love…
After inheriting her great-aunt’s failing yarn shop, Lilly Barnes is determined to make it a success. All she wants is stability, something she doesn’t think possible in the small town of Corinthia, Georgia. Then Pastor Daniel Foreman rents space in her store to hold meetings for his growing congregation, and this proves to be her lifeline. At first Lilly wants nothing to do with Daniel’s big dreams, but she soon finds herself starting to share his goals. Yet trouble between her customers and his congregation make them both doubt the path they’re on. That is, until practical Lilly shows him that love is a risk worth taking.

4 Stars from RT Book Reviews      “…Tippens imperfect and charming characters learn to lean on God for direction and to use their hurt to help others.”

Find her book at:
Harlequin.com
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
DeeperShopping.com
Available for Pre-order:  Christian Book

Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Beacon Contest and RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com.

 

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A cat named Raisin, and author Alison Stone

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

What’s in a name?
by guest blogger Alison Stone

The other day I was “Face-Timing” with my adorable 2 year-old niece. For those who may not know, Face-Timing is video chatting over the iPhone. It is very Jetson-like, if you ask me. And very cool if you live out of town, like my niece.

As we were chatting, a beautiful Siamese kitty elegantly hopped onto the shelf behind her and strolled across the screen. Until then, I didn’t realize my brother and sister-in-law had adopted a new pet. I asked my niece what her kitty’s name was and she proudly said, “Raisin.”

I smiled. My brother told me that when they were discussing names, my niece was in the backseat of the car. She suggested Raisin and Babybel.

The family liked the name Raisin, only to later realize my niece was hungry and suggesting snack ideas, not kitty names.  But her parents decided to stick with Raisin. And now they have a fun story on how they named their beautiful cat.

I always like the story behind a name, human or pet. Years ago, I was kicking around the idea of naming my firstborn Casey. I didn’t share the name with anyone. While I was pregnant, my sister adopted a puppy. Yep, you guessed it. She named him Casey. Needless to say, none of my children share the dog’s name.

A friend of mine recently told me a great story. When she first got married, she and her husband adopted a dog and named it Molly. A few years later, she had a daughter and still loved the name. She boldly decided to name her daughter Molly and changed the dog’s name to something else. I love this story. It makes me smile.

Naming characters in a book can be interesting, too. Before I was published, I picked names, including last names, of people I knew to populate my books. As soon as I realized a book was going to be published, I changed most of the names. There are a few exceptions however. I named a character in my latest book to be released in print, Random Acts, after my sister Lisa.

I named the heroine in my current work-in-progress after my niece, Lily. I hope to show it to her on the bookstore shelf someday.   Hmmm? Maybe I’ll give fictional Lily a cat named Raisin.  :)

 RANDOM ACTS
by Alison Stone

Bitter experience left Danielle hesitant to open her heart. When a family crisis brings her home, the hard-nosed attorney is forced to face the man that let her get away. And that her sister’s accident was staged to mask a beating.

Though Patrick guards his heart, seeing Danielle again reignites their old flame. But no way will he bring her into his daughter’s life, not when her values on faith and family are so different from his own. Yet they must work together to bring a criminal to justice before everything is destroyed—including their second chance at forever.

Originally released in eBook format only, is now available in print.
Links for Random Acts:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Random-Acts-ebook/dp/B00795G1X4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1362254466&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/random-acts-alison-stone/1108890294?ean=9781609289386

ALISON STONE writes romantic suspense for Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense and Samhain Publishing. Her debut novel, Random Acts, was a finalist for the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award in the unpublished inspirational category. Alison lives in Western New York with her husband of over twenty years and their four children, where the summers are absolutely gorgeous and the winters are perfect for curling up with a good book—or writing one. Besides writing, Alison keeps busy volunteering at her children’s schools, driving her girls to dance, and watching her boys race motocross.

Website:www.AlisonStone.com.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alison_Stone or @Alison_Stone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonStoneAuthor
Blog: http://alisonstone.wordpress.com/

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Teddy the bull mastiff…author Noelle Marchand, and A Texas Made Match

Posted on March 12, 2013 by

Today’s guest blogger is Noelle Marchand!

Teddy was a lover not a fighter. Oh, he could put on a good show for the lawn mower, but when it came right down to it the Bull Mastiff with 100 plus pounds of pure muscle and a booming bark wanted nothing more than an unending supply of treats and a constant belly rub.

He was smart enough to learn a plethora of showy tricks including how to place his big paws on your knee and hide his eyes to “pray”.  One cheery word to him would send him hurrying toward you with his tail wagging so hard that his entire body wiggled. The big sweetheart was with my family eleven years (a few years short of half my life) before he left us to romp around in the fields of Glory.

It has been more than a year since that day but a memory of him can still leave me smiling and a little teary eyed. The unconditional, unquestioning love of a pet is something not easily forgotten. Perhaps that is why the good Lord gave us animals that were so easily domesticated. He knew that we’d enjoy companionship with someone that was always willing to snuggle, play and even listen without understanding a single word.

Ellie O’Brien, the heroine of A Texas-Made Match, has a similar connection with a much larger animal—her trusty steed Starlight. Ellie has been responsible for Starlight’s care and training since the mare was a filly so it is no wonder that

Starlight is a comforting presence and perfect confidant for her. I don’t want to give away too much about the story, but when Starlight gets in trouble nothing will stop Ellie from rescuing her.

Ellie knows what I discovered. We must appreciate the good things in life while they are still here to be cherished, protected and appreciated.

AND HERE’S NOELLE’S NEW BOOK!

A TEXAS MADE MATCH
Love Inspired Historical Romance
Noelle Marchand
March, 2013

Matchmaker—Matched!

For Ellie O’Brien, finding the perfect partner is easy—as long as it’s for other people. Now the townsfolk of Peppin want to return the favor. But how could Lawson Williams be the right choice? The handsome ranch foreman was her childhood friend, but he’s the man Ellie deems least likely to court a tomboy with a guilty secret.

Lawson can’t help enjoying the town’s efforts to push him together with Ellie, though marriage isn’t in his plans. Yet Ellie’s become a warm, spirited woman who could chase away the clouds of his past. And with a whole town on their side, they could claim a love as big and bold as Texas itself….

Website: http://www.noellemarchand.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/noellemarchandauthor
Twitter: @noellemarchand

 

 

If you’d like to leave some comments or ask questions, Noelle willbe stopping back to reply.

Best wishes and blessings to all!

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Howdy–from the March Madness Blog Hop!

Posted on March 5, 2013 by

Howdy!

Today is the start of the March Madness Blog Hop involving 36 authors from many genres; and across the spectrum from inspirational/sweeter type romantic fiction (me!) to hotter books, and every step between. There are wonderful prizes in the overall drawing.  Read on, to see how to enter the raffle, and you’ll also find that there’s an extra prize at this blog, just from me!

If this is your first time at the All Creatures Great And Small blog, here’s a very warm welcome to you from the very snowy upper Midwest!

We’ve had one lovely snowfall after another, and as I write this in my cozy office, I’m looking out over our ten acres of pastures and hayfield, at snowflakes drifting down and adding to the five inches we got last night.

Though we now live in Iowa, both my husband and I grew up in Minnesota, and I love the snow. We find it sort of amusing though, when the local forecasters give us their predictions about “major winter storms.”  I mean, really!?  Five inches is a major storm?  LOL!

When I went out to do my horse chores this morning, I took these photographs. I like the one with the three of them, because it’s so typical.  The horses at the left are outside, the one at the right is inside, and all three want to be where they are not!

 

 

 

As you can see from this blog, I love country life and I definitely love animals. In addition to my own posts, I often feature posts by other authors who are animal lovers, too.

I’ve had over thirty books published thus far– all romantic suspense or mystery, with the exception of three that were romance.  I started with Harlequin Superromance, with an Everlasting and a trade paperback for public radio along the way, and now I’ve been writing inspirational romantic suspense for a while.

Almost all of my titles have been light romantic suspense, strong on a warm community of characters, often with inter-generational elements, and often set in small towns, ranches or out west.   A lot of my books have included animals with considerable personality. I had great fun using one of my childhood horses in Christmas at Shadow Creek, because Cherokee was a horse who took himself on a lot of adventures when he managed to escape our pasture!

I hope you’ll come back again, and also join me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roxanne.rustand    At Facebook, I’m always teetering at the edge of 5,000 friends and thus can’t add friends unless someone drops off,  but email me (through this website) or message me (through FB) to let me know, and I will watch out for your friend request!  You can also just subscribe, or click “follow” at the top of the profile.

To enter the March Madness Blog Hop raffle for lots of great prizes, go to:
Rafflecopter.  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3950b52/

To find all of the other authors participating in the blog hop and to have more chances to win prizes at some of the individual sites, go to:  http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=186826

There are all sorts of great prizes, but I’m offering an additional opportunity: if you leave a comment here, I’ll include you in a drawing for a  $25.00 Barnes &Noble gift card.

Best wishes!

Roxanne Rustand

 

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The Tale of Bad Bart, the Border Collie

Posted on March 4, 2013 by

Guest blogger Sharon Dunn

I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness. If it takes my dog being there [in Heaven], I believe he’ll be there.      Rev. Billy Graham

Bad Bart is not a pirate. He is my spastic border collie. If you think Marley of Marley and Me fame was the worst dog ever, stand aside, Bart is in the house. Bart eats socks. Bart eats dish rags. Bart eats my kids’ homework (yes, they actually used that as an excuse to their teacher and weren’t telling a lie)

Bart waits until we are relaxing for the evening to start doing the above activities. I know he does it for attention. Here’s the baddest part of Bad Bart. Bart barks at baby carriage and small children. They freak him out.

Here’s the saddest part of the The Tale of Bad Bart. Even with all of that, I love Bart. I’ve never been around an animal who was so devoted and so tuned in to each member of the family. He laid beside my husband when he was recovering from chemo treatments. He makes my son who has Asperger’s feel super special with the way he greets him and loves him without judgment and lots of doggie kisses. He is the best company when I am writing. He lies on my feet (not at my feet) when I’m working at my desk.

Bart was a shelter dog. All we know about him is that he and his mom were found abandoned in a rental house. In his defense, not all Bart’s behavior is entirely Bart’s fault. When we adopted him, the man who helped us with the adoption said that with border collies, it’s not just about  keeping them busy physically. Border collies are so smart they need a lot of mental stimulationas well.

I think a lot of the sock eating and homework consumption has to do with that. It’s not easy to stay mentally ahead of a border collie. They are so smart. Because he was bred to herd animals, Bart anticipates our movement. And I’ve never had a dog that could move backwards like he does.

Bart is not your standard issue lay in the corner until called kind of dog. He’s interested in what everyone in the house is doing and he actually runs patrols through the house checking on everyone and peering out each window to make sure no one is approaching the house. Gotta love that kind of dedication. Bart has added so much to my life. I can’t imagine it  without him.
Guard Duty
Sharon Dunn
Love Inspired Suspense
March, 2013

Rookie Police officer Valerie Salgado can identify a murderer who is probably a member of the crime syndicate that has plagued the town of Sagebrush Texas for months. With a death threat hanging over her head, she has new responsibilities caring for her niece and proving herself as a member of the K-9 police unit. When FBI agent Trevor Lewis comes into town looking for a fugitive, he offers her protection in exchange for her help.  A troubled childhood has left more walls around Trevor’s heart than a maximum security prison.

Guard Duty is the third book in the Texas K-9 Unit series from Love Inspired Suspense.    If you’ve missed the first two books in the series, you can find them at eharlequin.com,  barnesandnoble.com,  christianbook.com, and Amazon.  And don’t forget–the final three in the series will be coming out the first week of April, May and June–available in your local book stores and online!

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Baxter–Life through the eyes of a Shnauzer –by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

Meet Baxter.

Baxter has very little stress beyond whether his water bowl stays full, his food bowl is consistently replenished, and his trips outside are not withheld.

In short–which he is–Baxter is a low maintenance guy…er, dog.

Unfortunately, this fellow has one rather annoying habit. He likes to walk a half-step ahead of me while looking back to be sure I am following.

Not the best way to make progress of any kind. In fact, life would be much less complicated if Baxter would just let me do the leading while he does the following. I said this recently. Aloud. Yes, to a Schnauzer. And as the words left my mouth, I was struck with the thought that maybe I am guilty of the same thing.

How many times have I gotten ahead of God only to realize He wasn’t having any of it? How many more times did I think I knew exactly where God was going–or what He was going to do–only to realize I was nowhere near close in my guess? Just as Baxter sometimes barks when there’s nothing there, I too, let nothing (in the form of fear, worry, angst, or just plain imagination) grab my attention and hold it.

For all his foibles, Baxter has another side to him, a loyal and faithful side that I adore. Where I am, Baxter wants to be. My return from a brief trip away sends him into a crazy dance of joy that requires several rooms of the house to adequately perform. My presence is his source of joy and comfort.  So, the thought struck me: what if I looked at my relationship with God like that? What if I found contentment and joy merely in resting in his presence? What if I followed Him rather than leading? What if…

I learned something years ago about this journey called the Christian life. The more I learn about the Lord, the more I realize how much I do not know and how very far away from any sort of perfection I am. That knowledge is sobering. Humbling.

As 2012 closes and 2013 begins, many are dusting off their resolution lists and coming up with their word-of-the-year or making their promises of improvements to themselves and others. I think this just might be the year to follow a different course, a simple plan of finding rest and reverence. And for that, I can thank my Schnauzer.

I wish you could all meet Baxter.

AND HERE IS KATHLEEN’S NEWEST RELEASE!

FLORA’S WISH
Harvest House, February 2013
By Kathleen Y’Barbo
4 1/2 stars and Romantic Times February 2013 Top Pick!

 

There is no gadget that ingenious Pinkerton Lucas McMinn can invent to rid himself of the Natchez heiress “Fatal” Flora Brimm and her ridiculous idea that the man Lucas intends to arrest for murder is the same fellow she will wed in order to save her family’s plantation. McMinn is hot on the trail of Will Tucker, the thief who broke his sister’s heart. When he discovers the slippery fellow with Flora, he thinks they are in on the devious plot together. Will Flora be able to convince Lucas of her innocence? Will Lucas catch the elusive Mr. Tucker? you like your historical romance Southern with a dash of steampunk, you’ll love this one!
Pre-order: Christianbook.com Barnes & Noble Amazon

K a t h l e e n   Y ‘ B a r b o  -  T u r n e r
www.kathleenybarbo.com
Writing is a decision…
RITA, Carol, & Romantic Times Career Achievement Award nominee!

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Texas K-9 Unit series…and Margaret Daley

Posted on February 5, 2013 by

Guest blogger  Margaret Daley

The second book in the Love Inspired Suspense continuity for this year is about K-9 dogs in a Texas unit. Each dog has a specialty. One is a tracker. Another sniffs out bombs. Kip, my border collie, is about to find dead bodies buried in the ground (a cadaver dog).

In the story Kip is used to cover the forest because the authorities think bodies are buried in the woods. As I was researching about K-9 dogs, I was amazed at what they could do. Their sense of smell is keen–far superior to ours. There are even cadaver dogs that can smell a dead body that is under water.

Detection Mission
Love Inspired Suspense
2nd book in Texas K-9 Unit Series
February 2013
by Margaret Daley

Who is she?
While looking for a missing child in Sagebrush, Texas, K-9 detective Lee Calloway and his border-collie partner find someone else. A mystery woman running for her life, scared and injured. But she has no idea who she is—or why someone is after her. Lee’s unit suspects “Heidi” is a criminal who knows more than she’s saying, yet his gut instinct says she’s innocent. Lee vows to protect her until her memory returns, but now someone is desperate to ensure that never happens.

This is a wonderful suspense series–by six wonderful Love Inspired Suspense authors.  The books will be out monthly, January through June.  Watch for them! 

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Winter in the country….

Posted on January 30, 2013 by

Here in Iowa we’ve had considerable drought conditions throughout 2012 and January wasn’t looking much better.  Hay and feed prices have gone up and up–I can’t imagine what feed costs must be like for the beef, dairy and hog farmers, much less the folks who breed and raise horses for a business.

But glory be, we had some rain a few days ago that turned to a coating of ice….and today, we had rainy, warm weather–in the 50′s!  And now we’re looking at a night of rain, then sleet and ice, then 4-7 inches of lovely snow tomorrow.  Whatever, however we can get some moisture, it’s a blessing!

Earlier in our marriage, my husband and I raised quarter horses on a small scale and later, thoroughbreds.  We’ve now just just three mares and I thoroughly enjoy them–the pleasure of doing chores everyday, seeing them out in the pasture, having a chance to ride at a moment’s notice when the weather is decent.

Not that weather ever stopped me as a child—I rode bareback all winter long no matter how deep the snow, the soft warmth of the horse’s thick winter coat beneath me, loping down snow covered roads, heading out through fields of snowdrifts.  I look back and just shake my head at some of my daredevil inclinations…but I guess my guardian angel worked overtime.

Here’s a photo of our daughter Emily enjoying a snowy ride a couple years ago, and some current winter photos from around our place–from ice covered branches to a fencepost with a snow hat.   I just love the magical beauty of winter!

And it’s also a perfect excuse to stay inside with a hot cup of tea, and to work on some future book proposals, with our dog curled at my feet and the wind buffeting my office windows.

I hope you are having a wonderful winter, wherever you are.  I’d love to hear about it!  Roxanne

 

 

 

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AUTHOR CAROL POST & TUBBY, KITTEN EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by

By guest blogger Carol Post

All of our animals have been rescues of some type. Smudge (a/k/a Tubby) was no exception.
One rainy Sunday night after church, we pulled into the carport, and our daughter heard a kitten crying. My husband had done some yard work the prior day and stacked limbs beside the road. Huddled under a clump of Spanish moss, soaking wet and shivering, was a tiny white kitten. I brought him inside, blow-dried him, then fed him.
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Since we already had two cats, my husband said there was absolutely no way we could keep him. I put him in the play room where he would be separated from the other cats until I could take him to the Humane Society.
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But after clunking him in the head with the door a couple of times and wondering why he didn’t get out of the way when he heard us approach, I figured out he was deaf. There was no way we could turn away a “disabled” kitty, so my husband softened and we became a three-cat household.
Next was the task of naming him. He had two gray smudges on the top of his head, so we called him Smudge.
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As he got older, the smudges disappeared. He kept the name Smudge, but acquired a couple of nicknames along the way – Tubby (for obvious reasons – rations are hard to control in a multi-cat household) and Roadkill (because his favorite position was on his back with his legs in the air).
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Since he was deaf, he wasn’t afraid of anything. When cleaning, I had to nudge him with the vacuum cleaner to get him to move. He loved going for rides in the car and taking walks. When he would see me get his leash out of the closet, he would start purring, knowing he was going somewhere. He made several trips with my husband and me from Florida to North Carolina, and one trip to Connecticut and back.
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We always stopped at rest areas along the way and let him get some exercise at the dog walks. People would glance down, do a double take and say, “Oh, my goodness, that’s a cat!”
My parents loved Tubby, and when my dad was dying of cancer in 2007, we made monthly trips to North Carolina, Tubby in tow. Mom said several times how Tubby’s presence there comforted and cheered her. Animals have a way of offering unconditional love and bringing a calmness to trying circumstances.
Tubby has since crossed that “Rainbow Bridge,” and we will always miss him. But he lives on in my debut novel, Midnight Shadows.
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Midnight Shadows,
Love Inspired® Suspense, Jan. 2013
2012 Golden Heart® Finalist

With a relentless stalker after her, Melissa Langston flees Georgia for her small Florida hometown. Despite changing her name, she soon finds anonymous notes on her doorstep and a menacing figure lurking in the shadows.

She’s sure her stalker has tracked her down, but the police think she’s overreacting. The only one who believes she’s in danger is the former cop who broke her heart years ago. Melissa is afraid to get too close to ex-fiancé Chris Jamison, who is back in town to settle family business. Because the more she turns to the handsome man she’s never forgotten, the more her stalker wants Chris gone – permanently.

4-Star RT Review - “…Post’s characters have a vulnerability that’s easy to relate to in this strong debut that will keep you guessing about the stalker’s identity.”

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Jean C Gordon welcomes you to Tinhorn Farm!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by

by guest blogger  Jean C Gordon

If someone had told me 15 years ago that I’d now be living on a pig farm, I would have told that person he or she was crazy. But 14 years ago, my husband and I bought a small farm in Upstate New York with our daughter and son-in-law — ostensibly for them to grow fruits and vegetables.

A couple of years later, my son-in-law brought home a pair of Yorkshire pigs and started Tinhorn Farm, his pastured pig operation. Pastured pigs are pigs that are put out in fields to root and roam, rather than kept penned in a barn. Among our resident pigs, we have Yorkshires (Benny, as a youngster), Old Spots (Clarence), and Berkshires (Nubbins).

Having pigs can be exciting. For example, one snowy winter evening, the first year we had them, I came home from work and turned into our driveway to see 400-pound Benny, his 300-pound partner Mama, and their two half-grown offspring marching toward my car. They’d broken the fence surrounding the barn. My daughter and son-in-law and their family were in in Florida visiting his father. My husband was working late. I called a farmer friend and he and I got the group back into the barn. When my husband got home, they repaired the fence.
Tinhorn Farm now has much better fencing, along with the watchful eyes of Mr. Buttons and Xena, both black lab/boxer mixes, to keep the pigs in their pastures.

Shameless family promotion: You can follow Tinhorn Farm on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tinhorn-Farm/268979333162037?ref=ts&fref=ts)

And here’s some information about Jean’s new book — no pigs involved!

Lessons in Parenthood
Love Inspired
Small-town electrician Neal Hazard gave up his dreams years ago to raise his daughter. Now it’s his turn to makethose dreams a reality. But when his community college advisor turns out to be his high school prom date, he can’t believe his eyes. Widowed Anne is more beautiful than he remembers, and completely wrapped up in her career. But when she suddenly becomes guardian to an orphaned toddler, it’s Neal’s turn to teach Anne a few things. Maybe together, they’ll learn how priorities, parenthood and love truly fit together to create a family.

Keep in touch with Jean on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/JeanCGordon.Author
@JeanCGordon
And check her website for a chance to win one of
three copies of Small-Town Dad, www.JeanCGordon.com

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Meet Magic ..and enjoy more love and laughter from NY Times Bestselling Author Margaret Brownley

Posted on December 3, 2012 by

by today’s guest blogger  Margaret Brownley

The hero’s dog in my new book Waiting for Morning (Brides of Last Chance Ranch) is actually modeled after a darling Lhaso Apso owned by Reverend Diane Ryder, pastor of the Congregational Church of Chatsworth.  Rev. Ryder entered her pet in my “Your Dog in My Book” contest and Magic won both the contest and my heart.

Named after a street in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was born, Magic lived with a special-needs family and helped people unable to speak. Magic “wrote” that “every time I chased my tail or sat in a lap I would make my special friends smile.”

Magic loves to eat and play with squeaky toys. Since no commercial pet toys seemed to exist in the 1800s, in my story Magic had to be content chasing after a squeaky wheelchair. Sounds like the perfect dog for my hero Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, wouldn’t you say?

Magic has a long and noble heritage. Lhaso Apsos originated in Tibet and are one of the oldest recognized breeds in the world. Trained as watchdogs, these hardy canines guarded Tibetan royalty and Buddhist monasteries. They were highly prized and never sold. The only way a person could acquire a Lhaso Apsos was through a gift.

Lhaso Apsos didn’t reach American shores until the 1930s which rules out finding one in the Old West.

But with a name like Magic anything is possible . .

Waiting for Morning
by Margaret Brownley
Thomas Nelson, Publisher

If Molly Hatfield’s purple attire doesn’t blind you, her dazzling smile will.  She doesn’t just sing to the cattle, she puts on a whole show. If only she wasn’t so stubborn about her brother’s care.  Or so distrustful of a certain handsome doctor…

About the author…

Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this—except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, “Maybe God’s calling you to write fiction.”

So that’s what Margaret did. She’s now a New York Times bestselling author and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 25 novels to her credit.  Her first non-fiction book Grieving God’s Way: the Lasting Path to Hope and Healing has won much critical acclaim.  She is currently working on the third book in her Brides of Last Chance Ranch series “Dawn Comes Early” is available now and “Waiting for Morning” can be preordered.

Not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English.  Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

For a chance to win a hundred dollar Amazon or B&N  gift card from this publisher, preorder a new copy of  Waiting for Morning and forward the receipt  to ipreordered@gmail.com.  That’s all there is to it.  Good luck!

www.margaretbrownley.com

 

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Missing an old friend…hoping to rescue a new one!

Posted on November 12, 2012 by

Going way back to the beginning of this blog, you’ll find all sorts of blog posts.  Some are fun–the tales of The Old Horsetrader, for instance.  Some are by other novelists, who have shared stories about their own beloved pets.  And a good share are about our own little menagerie.

Time marches on… and some of our aging, much loved pets have crossed that Rainbow Bridge to the other side.  Do you follow me on Facebook?  I’m at www.facebook.com/roxannerustand, and I post fun and poignant pieces about animals there, almost every day.

Recently I found the sweetest picture to share on Facebook, showing a green, verdant place filled with healthy, happy, contented dogs–all waiting in heaven for their human friends to join them.  It really touched my heart, because I’d sure love to meet all of my old friends there!

We lost our fluffy, sweet old Border collie mix about a month ago,  Harold was way too big, but until arthritis made it too hard to jump on the sofa with us, he liked to drape himself across our laps.  He loved attention and had the sweetest face!

He had health issues and had been on medications for several years….and we knew that every morning, there’d be puddles to clean up, but he was still our sweet Harold, and we were willing to do what it took to keep him with us.  But…this fall it finally came to the point where he refused to take his pills and wouldn’t eat, and no matter what treat we tried, he wouldn’t eat them either.

And the vet said, it was time.

Our house seems empty now.  Elmo–our other dog, whom we found at a shelter several years ago– is sad and dejected unless our son’s dogs come to play.  And now, I’ve begun to look for a rescue dog to bring into our family.  I’d love to find a middle-aged adult golden retriever, knowing that puppies are easy to place, but adults have a harder time at finding a forever home.

I’d love to hear from you about your own pets, and how much they have meant to you!

Blessings,

Roxanne

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Fireballs + one Husky = trouble!

Posted on November 8, 2012 by

by blog guest  Jodie Bailey

We have an amazing Siberian Husky named Dutch.  He’s our “God made him for us” puppy.  My husband’s Army career forced us to decide not to adopt a dog until we retired because we once had to give up a beloved Alaskan Malamute when we couldn’t find anywhere that would allow us to have a dog his size.  For years, I dreamed about him and missed him.

We were in the (probably bad) habit of stopping by the local Petsmart every Saturday to see the shelter dogs, always talking about when we’d get our husky.  We managed to resist every one we saw until the day I walked by the cage of a beautiful boy who looked right at me and started to “talk” in the way only a Husky can.  That was one of the things I missed most about our Kodie, his incredibly expressive “conversations.”  I took one look at my husband and said, “Get me out of here before I fall in love.”

One week and one long story later, Dutch came to live with us.  And, for the record, he has never “talked” again.  However, he is my constant writing companion, generally lying right at my feet in a state of completely zonked out bliss.

One day he wasn’t at my feet.  I didn’t think much of it; he was still into exploring the apartment on his own at that point.  But, like a sudden tornado, he came flying up the hall, galloping like he was being chased by rabid tigers.  He rounded the corner, hit the kitchen tile with all four feet skittering, and drained his water dish like it was the last liquid on earth.

That wasn’t good enough.  Before I could blink, he was at the front door looking from me to the door, me to the door, clearly saying, “Come on, lady!  I have to get out of this place.  Now!”  I let the crazy dog out, and he headed straight down the stairs to a mud puddle at the side of the building, which he proceeded to lick almost dry before I could stop him. This was definitely odd behavior.

At this point, I was wondering if the dog needed a therapist, but he headed back inside and crashed in the middle of the living room like he’d just barely escaped death in battle.  After I watched for a few minutes to make sure he was okay, I went exploring to figure out what exactly it takes to scare a dog into a drinking frenzy.

Nothing in my daughter’s room.  Nothing in “the dog’s” room.  Ah, but in our bedroom…  in a red, slobbery line from their stashed hiding place in my nightstand drawer to the bedroom door… a trail of half-eaten Fireballs.

And in the den?  One repentant puppy who has never again tried to pilfer food.  Can you blame him?

And here’s some information about Jodie’s new book!

FREE FALL
Love Inspired Suspense
November, 2012

With one accusation, army officer Cassidy Matthews’s name, reputation—and life—are on the line. A Special Forces soldier insists that Cassy’s Fort Bragg-based unit is smuggling drugs. And the accuser? It’s Cassy’s handsome, stubborn ex-husband, Major Shane Logan. Shane knows Cassy is innocent, which is why he’s sure she’s being set up to take the fall. Proving it, though, means working together…and trying to ignore the feelings they still share. The closer they get—to the truth and each other—the more the danger grows from a ruthless criminal who’ll stop at nothing to destroy them both.

Jodie Bailey
"Faith and Fiction with a Touch of Southern Grace"2
www.jodiebailey.com
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A brush with Hurricane Sandy

Posted on October 31, 2012 by

Howdy!

I’ve been away from home the past eighteen days, so things have been quiet here on the blog.

 

My dh and I went to Quebec City for three days, then left on a fall colors cruise up the St Lawrence River, with stops in Saguenay and Baie-Comeau Quebec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island;  Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia, then Bar Harbor and Boston.

I’d never been to Quebec City and fell in love with its charm and architecture–and everywhere one looked, there were beautiful Halloween decorations in the doors and windows of the shops.

They sure go all out—so much more than we do here in the Midwest USA!

  One of the photos here is of a man who was playing his music along one of the streets, selling his CDs.  Isn’t his dog beautiful?  So clean, so content and gorgeous.

The fall colors and beautiful scenery we saw on the trip  won my heart, too.  I love the ocean, rocky cliffs and the blazing beauty of fall.

On the way down the East Coast we met up with something far less beautiful, though–Hurricane Sandy.

The cruise ship (Holland America’s Eurodam) is huge, but it swayed and rocked a lot, making walking difficult.  As the weather got worse and worse, the captain searched for an open port somewhere, and instead of continuing on to port in Ft Lauderdale, he had to take the ship up the St John River  to a shipping dock in Jacksonville Florida on Saturday.

We were able to fly out for home late Monday.  It was so nice to arrive home and see our dog and horses and cats again!

With thoughts and prayers for all of those who are dealing with Hurricane Sandy,

 

Roxanne

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Author Terri Reed, a trip to England, and The Doctor’s Defender

Posted on October 9, 2012 by

Note:  Terri will be giving away two previously  published books to one commenter, so be sure to leave her a note below!

This past summer I visited England.  We were there to drop our daughter off at the university in Richmond upon Thames.  While there we rented a car and drove out to the countryside.  A most terrifying exhilarating experience!  The rolling hills, green grass and wooded landscape reminded me so much of Oregon where we live.

As we were driving we came across a pasture of sheep.  I’ve never seen so many in one place before.    We stopped so I could take a picture.  As I was standing there surveying the flock, I was reminded of Psalms 23:1-6.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The words played in my mind, soothing and comfortable.  I’ve always found verse six especially interesting. It doesn’t say goodness and mercy will go before us, or be with us but be what is left behind in our wake.   What a wonderful reminder of how we are to act everyday.   This month I have a new release out, The Doctor’s Defender.   I think Doctor Brenda Storm tried very hard to live out this verse.

The Doctor’s Defender
Love Inspired Suspense
October, 2012

Do No Harm…
As a trauma surgeon, Dr. Brenda Storm saves lives every day. But someone wants her dead.  It starts with the anonymous delivery of poisoned cupcakes.  Now the hospital has hired a bodyguard to protect her 24/7.

At first, Brenda doesn’t think too-handsome Kyle Martin is the right for the job.  Then she discovers his harrowing background—and that Kyle will do anything to keep her safe.  With every attempt on her life, she’s more drawn to the strong and silent man who risks his life for hers.  But their growing feelings could put them both in harm’s way.

 

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