Wednesday Writers–War-Torn Heart by Allison Wells

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Allison Wells, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Clemson University, excerpt from War-Torn Heart, Historical Christian Romance, South Carolina, War-Torn Heart, WWII novel

Welcome to Wednesday Writers. Today’s guest is Allison Wells, author of War-Torn Heart. Allison will be sharing some background of the setting of this Historical Christian Romance as well as an excerpt from the book. Welcome, Allison!

 

Thanks, Catherine.

War-Torn Heart is more than just a Christian romance novel. It’s set in a very real time in our history and takes place in real locations in South Carolina.

As a Clemson alumni myself, the history of the school has always enthralled me. Hearing that the entire class of 1943 enlisted and went off to join the war effort really resonated with me. That sense of purpose, of community – it is something I would love to see come back to our country.

Before having children, I worked as a newspaper journalist. I covered a small town called Six Mile just a short ways away from Clemson University and I fell in love with the small town and pride this community took in their history. The town had dwindled, stores had closed, but the people remained friendly and positive. This is the inspiration for the unnamed town in which the main character of War-Torn Heart lives.

From there, I began to weave the story of Abby, her rocking chair front porch home filled with family, the white clapboard church her family had attended for generations, and the plantation ruins she and Harvey explore. All were inspired by real homes and churches I have had the pleasure of seeing while living in the Upstate.

South Carolina is a magical place. History comes alive when one can set foot in churches built in 1822 and sit in pews once occupied by US Vice Presidents. Where people can see the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains from any hilltop. And where people are genuinely warm and welcoming.

I can only hope that the magic of South Carolina is felt in War-Torn Heart and that the story of an entire class who went off to fight for freedom, and the local families also affected by World War II, is palpable to the reader.

From my heart to yours, God bless.

 

 

War-Torn Heart

By Allison Wells

   Abigail Walker, a young woman from rural South Carolina, is on the cusp of womanhood, aching to be able to run wild as the younger children do, yet yearning for things she has yet to understand.

   Awkward and unsure of herself, Abby is flustered when she meets Harvey Nicholas, a cadet from Clemson College. As summer begins, Abby finds herself constantly in the company of Harvey and falling quickly in love with him.

   As rumors of war begin to reach the States, Abby begins to fear what may come for her older brother and Harvey.

   Once Pearl Harbor is bombed, the boys are eager to protect their home and the women they love. But will Abby and Harvey’s love be able to withstand distance, rumors, loss, and hurt? Or will the war be what tears apart Abby’s heart?

   War-Torn Heart is a kleenex-box book with a story of hope, of love, and of perseverance through World War II, which will make the reader cry, scream, and long for more.

Excerpt:

Through the tears, Abby watched Harvey pick up her left hand and slide the ring over her third finger. It fit perfectly, surely a sign from God. Abby had never felt happier and more afraid at the same time.

Then, reality came washing back over her. Harvey was leaving, and Abby didn’t know for how long. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she prayed with all her might that he would return home to her. Harvey held her close and a few sniffs escaped from him as well. Wet tears fell onto Abby’s curls. Several yards away, men were starting to get on the buses, the engines rumbling. Abby knew it was time to say goodbye. She backed away from Harvey several steps, giving herself space. She looked at him; she memorized every piece of his face. His hair, starting to grow, brushed against his brow. His eyes, bold and green, studied her back. His high cheeks were proud and stern. His mouth was soft and warm.

Peter approached Abby again. “Tell everyone I love them?” he asked. “And keep an eye on Emme for me. I don’t have a fancy ring for her, but I think everyone knows she’s taken.” He smiled at his sister and hugged her. Abby didn’t say anything back, but her face spoke volumes.

Harvey again lifted Abby’s chin with his hand. “I told you not to look down, Abby,” he said. “You’re a strong, godly woman, who should always look up.”

“I will,” she said quietly.

“I love you with everything, Abigail,” Harvey told her as he hugged her close. He kissed her sweetly. “I’ll be home soon.”

“I’m counting on it,” she said, twirling the ring on her finger. “I love you, too.”

As the men stepped back, Emmeline’s hand slipped into Abby’s. They each squeezed with all their might as Peter and Harvey finally turned around and headed to the bus, shoulder to shoulder.

Harvey got on first; he turned and waved at the girls. Abby felt hot tears fall down her face and neck. Then he disappeared. Peter stepped up next. He blew his wife a kiss and waved. Emmeline’s grip tightened, and she began to wail. The door closed behind Peter, and the bus jerked forward, a puff of smoke billowing out as it rambled down the road. Abby and Emmeline stood motionless, holding hands until the bus was out of sight.

When they could see the bus no longer, Emmeline buckled and fell to the ground. Abby quickly gathered her sister-in-law into her lap, and the pair cried until they had no tears left. It seemed like hours before they got up. Tear-stained and dirty, they got into the car and drove home in silence.

Want to read more? You can find War-Torn Heart on Amazon

About the Author:

Allison Wells lives in the foothills of South Carolina’s Upstate, in the shadow of Clemson University. She’s a former newswriter and wedding photographer who is finally pursuing her dream of being a published author. Allison is married and has four children. When not writing or reading, she can be found trying to nap or shuttling her children from activity to activity – but not at the same time.

Social Media: Facebook   Instagram   Website

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday Writers–Innocence Denied by Mike Garrett

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Christian Romantic Suspense, excerpt from Innocence Denied, Innocence Denied, Mike Garrett

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Mike Garrett, author of Innocence Denied, here to tell us how this  Christian Romantic Suspense started and to share an excerpt. Welcome, Mike.

Thanks, Catherine.

Innocence Denied actually began as an idea for a secular novel many years ago. What if someone falsely accused of murder skips bail and flees prosecution? For some reason I could never get motivated enough to actually write it. I knew essentially who my characters were but just wasn’t sure what their purpose of interaction would be.

Everything changed at a church service a couple of years ago when the message urged serving God with our spiritual gifts. Our Father had blessed me with the knowledge to make a career of something that I loved, so shouldn’t I be doing something to honor Him in return?

I immediately knew that the focus of my secular idea could easily be changed. A Christian man and an unbelieving woman would be thrown together under extraordinary circumstances never to be the same again.

With God’s help along the way, I put together what I consider a page turner—I wanted to make it difficult for the reader to find a place to stop, and the results have been high praise from reviewers. This was a writing experience unlike any other for me.

My goal with the novel was two-fold. First, I wanted to provide examples of subtle witnessing that Christian readers could adapt as a blueprint to witnessing to others. Second, I wanted the witnessing aspect of the story to bring unbelieving readers closer to God.

Of course, unbelievers would never choose to read a Christian novel. On the last page of the novel I ask readers to give their copy of the book to someone who needs to receive its message. Perhaps with the endorsement of a dear friend, an unbeliever might be willing to at least give the novel a try.

Innocence Denied is written in such a way that the Christian theme of the novel is minimal in the beginning and slowly increases closer to the end. There’s an element of suspense as to everything may not be as it seems. My hope is that an unbelieving reader may be hooked enough by the characters and story developments to be more receptive to its message.

Writing this book has been an honor, and if at least one lost soul is brought closer to Jesus as a result, it will have been a success.

 

Innocence Denied

By Mike Garrett

He saved her from life in prison,

then freed her soul . . .

Innocence Denied

EXCERPT:

Relaxing behind the steering wheel as they entered Arkansas, Derrick yawned, then said, “Tell me something good.”

Larissa glared at him in the dim light and answered incredulously, “Are you kidding me?”

Derrick smiled at her, feeling more at ease now that their destination was clear. “No, I’m not. There’s always something good.”

Shaking her head, Larissa snapped, “I’m running for my life. Nothing’s good.”

“You’re not in jail, right? That’s good.”

Larissa sat silently, apparently distancing herself from the conversation.

“You’re beautiful, you’re healthy, and you have a long life ahead of you. That’s good, isn’t it?”

Larissa sat silently. “Humph,” she finally responded, flipping down the sun visor to stare at her reflection in the mirror behind it, her image barely visible in the low light. “Just look at me. You can’t possibly call this beautiful.”

With a laugh Derrick shot back, “I told you before that you can’t hide your looks. Besides, your hair will grow back and you’ll laugh at this conversation.”

Larissa groaned and snapped, “So what’s good for you, Mr. Glass Half Full?”

Another big grin spread across Derrick’s face. “That’s easy,” he said. “I’m going home!”

 

Want to read more? You can find Innocence Denied at Barnes and Noble

 

About the Author:

MIKE GARRETT is a devout Christian and life-long resident of Alabama. His world revolves around God, his wife Sharon, two adult children, five grandchildren, and one granddog. He is an internationally respected book editor and previously published author. Mike first ventured into Christian writing by drafting humorous scripts for church dramas, one of which was “The Thirteenth Disciple.” He also wrote and produced a short film, “Mysterious Ways,” in which he combined his life-long interest in the classic TV show, “The Twilight Zone,” with a biblical theme. Innocence Denied is his first Christian novel. Its official website is http://www.innocencedeniedbook.com

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

https://twitter.com/mgarrett49

https://www.facebook.com/InnocenceDenied/?modal=admin_todo_tour

http://innocencedeniedbook.com/

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers – A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot

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A Tender Hope, AmandaCabot, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, excerpt from A Tender Hope, historical romance

 

 

Today’s Wednesday Writers blog guest is best-selling romance author Amanda Cabot. Amanda will be sharing an excerpt from her historical romance A Tender Hope and a tidbit of conversation she overheard from a couple of her characters. Welcome, Amanda!

 

 

Thanks, Catherine.

Like many towns, Cimarron Creek has an active grapevine and its share of busybodies. I happened to listen in while the biggest busybody of all, whom I’ll call Mrs. BB, cornered Thea Michener outside her home.

 

Mrs. BB: Welcome to Cimarron Creek, Mrs. Michener. I can’t tell you how delighted we all are to have a new midwife. You know we needed one.

Thea: I’m happy to be here.

Mrs. BB: You’ll excuse me for saying this, I’m sure, but you’re not quite what I expected.

Thea: In what way?

Mrs. BB: You’re younger than I thought, and well … I know you’re a widow, but you’re not wearing black.

Thea: I can assure you that I’m well trained as a midwife, and just because I put my widow’s weeds aside doesn’t mean I don’t regret my husband’s passing.

Mrs. BB: Hmm … How did he die, if you don’t mind my asking?

Thea: That is a rather personal question, Mrs. BB, but since you asked, I might as well tell you that he was shot.

Mrs. BB: A robbery?

Thea: Perhaps, and now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk about something else.

Mrs. BB: I heard another lady came with you and that she’s from Paris, France.

Thea: Your information is half right. My companion is Aimee Jarre, and she’s from France, but not Paris. She lived in a small town called Maillochauds.

Mrs. BB: And why did she come to Texas?

Thea: Personal reasons.

Mrs. BB: I see. You don’t want to say anything more. That’s all right. It might be my imagination, but she looks a bit familiar. I know I’ve never seen her before, but she reminds me of someone.

Thea: It must be your imagination. Either that, or she has a double. I’ve heard that somewhere in the world, each of us does.

Mrs. BB: Do you believe that?

Thea: I’m not sure. I’ve certainly never met my double, but I suppose it’s possible.

Mrs. BB: So, what is Miss Jarre like? She is “Miss” Jarre, isn’t she?

Thea: Oh, yes. She’s waiting for the coup de foudre to strike.

Mrs. BB: Coo duh what?

Thea: It’s the French term for lightning strike. Aimee’s mother told her that sometimes love is like that. You see a man for the first time, and in that instant, you know that he’s the one you’re meant to marry.

Mrs. BB: I never heard of that. It wasn’t like that when I met Mr. Mrs. BB, but I reckon it could be possible. Do you believe in that coo duh whatever?

Thea: No, I don’t. Not anymore.

Mrs. BB: Why not?

Thea: I’m sorry, Mrs. BB, but I really need to go now.

 

Poor Thea. Not only was she confronted by a woman who wanted to know too much about her past, but though she had no way of knowing it, before the week was over, she would have discovered that the story about having a double was true. Unfortunately, the circumstances of learning that were more tragic than Thea could have imagined.

 

A Tender Hope

By Amanda Cabot

 

As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it’s time for a change. With her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek’s midwife, she has no intention of remarrying. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn’t sure her heart can take it.

Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn’t concerned only with the baby’s welfare. He’s been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he anticipated—and he’ll need Thea’s help if he’s ever to find the justice he seeks.

Excerpt

She was trying to run away from him. Jackson Guthrie scowled as Ladreville’s sheriff told him the woman he’d tracked this far had left town only hours before he arrived. Somehow—and he didn’t know how, since there’d been no sign of the rest of the Gang—she must have realized that he was searching for her. Admittedly, the story that she’d accepted a position as a midwife in another town sounded plausible, but the timing was suspect. It was more likely that with her husband dead, she’d decided to operate from a different location.

The Gang had done that before. That was part of what made finding them so difficult. They kept moving, and when they weren’t robbing stagecoaches or trains, they simply disappeared from sight. Three men and a woman. The Gang of Four. And unless his hunch was totally wrong, she was one of them.

She was running. Jackson didn’t doubt that for a minute. What she didn’t know was that she couldn’t outrun him. Texas Rangers always got their man, or in this case, their woman.

 

Want to read more? You can find A Tender Hope bt Amanda Cabot at Amazon

 

About the Author:

Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city. Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards. A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication. 

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot

https://twitter.com/AmandaJoyCabot/

http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Writers–The Soul Searcher by Erin R. Howard

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book excerpt from The Soul Searchers, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Erin R. Howard, Naming your characters, The Kalila Chronicles, The Soul Searcher, Urban Fantasy

 

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Erin R. Howard, author of the urban fantasy series The Kalila Chronicles. Erin will be talking about names and their importance to your book characters. She also sharing an excerpt from book 2 of the series, The Soul Searcher. Welcome, Erin.

 

 

 

Thanks, Catherine.

With my first two children, it wasn’t hard to decide on their names. We both agreed on the names before we even went in to find out whether we were having a boy or a girl. When we got pregnant with our third child, my husband and I couldn’t agree on a girl’s name. We had the boy’s name ready, but nothing seemed to feel right for a girl’s name. The ones that did, we already knew little girls with that name. I remember feeling out of sorts the day of the ultrasound because if we were having a girl, we had no clue what to name her. At the ultrasound, we were told that the baby was a boy, and somehow deep down, maybe I knew, and that’s why I couldn’t settle on a girl name.

When I got serious about writing and began plotting my book, I didn’t think naming my characters would be harder than it was to name my children. But it was! Every name that I liked was either a name from another book that I loved, someone we knew, or it wasn’t the right fit for the character’s personality. I would sit and stare at the blank page, then switch to searching through baby name websites. My husband suggested that I put any name in for the moment and change it later, but that didn’t work for me. I had to have the perfect name.

If you’re not familiar with urban fantasy, it has all the elements of fantasy, but instead of a fictional world, it’s set in our world. In my debut novel, The Seer, I have three main characters. Viktor, Matthias, and Thea. Viktor is a demon, and his mission is to destroy Thea, who is the last of the seers’ bloodline.

I love old fashioned names and ones that are spelled differently. Since Viktor is a demon and tasked with the job of destroying Thea, I wanted to find a name that had that type of theme. When I saw that Viktor means, “conqueror” I switched the “c” to “k,” and now I can’t imagine his name being anything else.

There are a few more hidden meanings scattered throughout the series. The Kalila, an ancient society that trains humans who have supernatural gifts, means “my beloved” and Bethesda, the sanctuary city they are trying to escape to, means “house of mercy.”

In the second book of the series, The Soul Searcher, one of the new main characters name is Elnora. She is named after my Nanny, who passed away while I was writing the first book. She even has my Nanny’s red hair and sometimes fiery temper. I know that she would have been excited to see that I have a character named after her.

What is one book that you’ve read and loved the name of the character? Or what about one that you didn’t like? Did it stop you from finishing the story? Tell me in the comment section, I would love to know!

 

The Soul Searcher

by Erin R. Howard

 

Elnora’s parents gave her one rule:

Stay hidden away at all costs.

Elnora Scott is used to her survival depending on the decisions of others. Locked away in her safe house, it is easy to follow her parents’ dying wishes until an angel, demon, and seer show up on her doorstep. Now, waking up in a dirty cell, she wishes she would have gone with them when she had the chance, because the very ones who unknowingly ushered the kidnapper to her location may be the only ones who can save her.

 

When Thea learns that Elnora may be in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to go find her. Thea thought stepping through the portal would be her greatest obstacle, but it only reveals a more sinister threat.

 

Excerpt from The Soul Searcher:

“A red blinking light from the safe room door caught her attention as she placed her toothbrush in the holder and left the bathroom. Purple, silk pajamas slipped through her fingers and landed at her feet. The smooth fabric tickled her toes as she tried to get her legs to cooperate and move towards the door, but she couldn’t move.

This was not a drill.

Someone was in her house.

She was such a fool. She shouldn’t have let hope come in and take root, because it came in and caught her with her guard down. This hope turned her whole world upside down. Forcing her feet to move this time, she took a step closer to the door, hoping it was an accident, that Markus made a mistake and triggered the alarm without meaning to. This hope kept her taking another step, and another, even though her heart knew what her mind didn’t want to accept yet. Markus didn’t make those kinds of mistakes. The silent, blinking red light taunted her, beckoned her to come to the door and see for herself. To come and see if this was all a mistake.” -Elnora,

Want to read more? Click Pre-Order/Purchase Link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Searcher-Kalila-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B07MLXTYJT

 

About the Author:

Erin R. Howard is a developmental editor, fantasy author of The Kalila Chronicles, and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. When she’s not writing, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, fueling her craft addictions, and teaching writing workshops. Erin is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the KenTen Writers Group. She resides in Western Kentucky with her husband and three children.

Social Media:  Website: Facebook: Instagram:

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–Devotion by Olivia Rae

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Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, devotion, Inpsirational Historical Romance, Olivia Rae, stone effigies, Templars, The Sword and the Cross Chronicles, The Temple Church

 

 

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Olivia Rae who will be talking about her Inspirational Historical Romance, Devotion and giving us some background on the book’s setting and how it came to be. Welcome, Olivia!

 

A Setting Can Lead to a Series

By Olivia Rae

            I love to read about the past. If something is written over 50 years ago, I’ll pick it up to read. Once I read a story about a golden knight that saved the Cross of Solomon from the Muslims. I don’t know if the story was true or not, but it got me thinking. So I began to write Revelation, which is the second story in The Sword and The Cross Chronicles (Yes, the second story came before the first.).

            However, the story did not have the depth that it needed until I went to London with my daughter and we went to the Temple Church. The Templars started building this church, which was their headquarters, in the 12^th century. Walking into the church, it didn’t take me long to realize just how powerful the Templars were back then. At one time, the Templars were even in control of the royal treasury. This might be the kernel of truth that started so many Templar rumors and myths you hear about today.  

            As fascinating as all those stories might be, it was the stone effigies that are found in the floor of the church that really had an impact on me. Now I had a clear visual of what a Templar knight probably looked like. Granted my series takes place before the oldest effigy (William Marshall 1146-1219) was ever put into the floor. Yet, I couldn’t get their images out of my head. These knightly effigies gave testament to a very tumultuous time in history. The Templars originally were a warrior monk order whose main goal was to offer protection to pilgrims going to the Holy Land. Many of these early pilgrims were the infirmed and ill looking for healing in the water of Bethesda, and in some cases, the Sea of Galilee. As more and more Europeans came to the area cultures began to clash. More importantly, who was going to control the trade routes from the East? Like now, back then, power was everything. There were saints and sinners on both sides during the Crusades and which may explain why some were immortalized in effigies.  

            My book, Devotion doesn’t have an effigy, but it does tell the story of a knight who was severely wounded and disfigured (check out book five in the series) and a woman whose heart is hard and locked away in a stone, kind of like an effigy to her miserable life. But that is nothing a little faith and love can’t remedy. I do so hope you will check out Devotion. I really did save the best for last.

 

About the Author:

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary inspirational romance. She spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long, boring days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories by adding in what she’s learned as an adult living in a small town on the edge of a big city. When not writing, she loves to travel, dragging her family to old castles and forts all across the world. Olivia is the winner of the New England Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Quill Award and the American Fiction Award. She has also been a finalist in many other writing contests, including the National Readers’ Choice Awards and the National Excellence in Romance.

Connect with Olivia at Website : Facebook: Twitter :

You can find Olivia’s book at  Amazon:  B&N:   Apple:  Kobo:

 

 

Wednesday Writers-Writing the Backstory for Troubled Writers by Eris Field

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Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, early onset dementia, Eris Field, No Greater Love, psychiatir disorders, Writing Backstory for troubled characters

 

Eris Field is today’s Wednesday Writer’s guest and she’ll be talking about

Writing the Back-Story for Troubled Characters

from Eris Field

Photo Courtesy of geralt pixabay.com

In reality, psychiatric disorders are similar to physical disorders in that they have predisposing factors (risk factors), protective or buffering factors, and an impact on the family as well as the patient.

Recently, I’ve been reading novels that include a family member developing early onset dementia (onset before the age of 60 years) and the necessity of one of the characters (usually the son or daughter) to take over the care. The information seems to be plunked down with no description of possible risk factors—certainly a big cause of fear for every other family member—and little description of the effect on the person’s life and on the caregiver. Just think of someone younger than 60 years. An energetic time for most and certainly too young for retirement. They’ve got things to do and places to go. The person’s children are in their 30’s and there are probably young grandchildren.

As a retired psychiatric nurse I turn the pages frantically looking for the writer to provide more information about the afflicted member and the impact on the family member assuming the caregiver role.

It occurred to me that readers want to know and writers need to address three vital questions:

1. What are the predisposing factors? What in the character’s backstory might have contributed to his developing the illness? Do I have those risk factors?
2. What are the protective factors? Family members wonder what can I do to avoid the same illness?
3. What is the effect of the illness? What would the effect be on me: my career, my savings for the future, my children’s educational funds, my marriage, and my plans for retirement.

In writing about early onset or late onset dementia, it should be remembered that it is a gradual process. Mild cognitive impairment is believed to be a preclinical phase of dementia. People with mild cognitive impairment have impaired memory for recent events but they also frequently have apathy, depression, irritability, and anxiety. They may appear to be agitated without cause. The onset of mild cognitive impairment may be followed by dementia, often within three to five years.

Predisposing factors for developing mild cognitive impairment include:
• Lower level of education
• Fewer stimulating mental activities
• Less physical exercise

Protective factors include:
• Higher level of education achieved
• Being employed or volunteering
• Engaging in physical exercise
• Maintaining good health
• Having an active social support network
• Not smoking
• Having one glass of alcohol a day

Effect on Others
Family members often notice that the person has difficulty remembering future commitments and the family begins to compensate for person’s inability to remember things.

Dementia is an impairment of cognitive functioning—thinking, reasoning, knowing, and memory– that is severe enough to cause problems with communicating, self-care, and functioning at work, within the family, and within social situations.

Predisposing factors for dementia that occur in middle age:
• History of trauma to the head: repeated injuries to the head, concussions
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking
• Physical inactivity
• High cholesterol,
• Depression

Protective factors for dementia that occur in middle age
• High levels of academic achievement
• Mediterranean diet
• Engaging in intellectually challenging activities
• Engaging in physical exercise
• Moderate use of alcohol (one glass a day)

Predisposing factors for dementia that occur at old age
• Stress
• Cigarette smoking
• Depression
• Head injuries, especially head injuries from falls
• Social isolation and loneliness
• Medications with anticholinergic effects

Protective factors for dementia that occur at old age
• Following a Mediterranean diet
• Drinking wine daily in moderation (one glass)
• Maintaining physical activity
• Engaging in cognitively stimulating activities
• Engaging in leisure activities: music, walking, visiting friends, reading, volunteering, playing games with friends
• Maintaining social networks
• Spirituality

Effect of dementia on others
Grief over the loss of a partner, a relationship, and a shared dream of the future,
Guilt over losing patience with the person with dementia.
Guilt for not being able to keep promise to care for them at home,
Anger over changes, financial burden, and lost opportunities associated with caring for the ill person.
Fear of being at increased risk of developing dementia, and
Fear that dementia in the family may jeopardize chances of marriage for younger family members.

Writers often hint at a genetic influence as the cause of the development of dementia, but if they would include the presence of other risk factors or absence of protective factors in the back stories of their troubled characters and would describe broader effects on the caregiver, their stories would be richer, more compelling.

Here is a brief intro to one of my romance novels that deals with some of these issues. I hope you enjoy it.

At some time in our lives, many of us will be refugees–people fleeing from traumatic situations such wars, earthquakes, fires, floods, or the aftermath of debilitating illness, death, divorce or betrayal. Help for some may come from family members, friends, and spiritual leaders. Within the medical profession, it is often psychiatrists who help those who have been traumatized by such events. No Greater Love is a contemporary, international romance featuring a psychiatrist and a nurse who help those who are refugees only to discover that they are the only ones who can save each other. The story moves from East Aurora in Western New York to Leiden and Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

Descended from legendary Circassian beauties once sought for Sultans’ palaces, Janan, a survivor of an earthquake in Turkey that killed her family when she was eight years old, was adopted by an older, childless couple in East Aurora. Her adoptive father was raised with a cousin, Carl, who, in 1939 at the age of 5, had been sent from his home in Leiden by his Dutch-Jewish father to his uncle in the US to save him from Nazi occupation of The Netherlands. Now, 28 years old, Janan has spent her life working as a nurse, caring for her parents, and, after their deaths, helping the aging Carl.

When Pieter, a young Dutch psychiatrist who Carl mentored, comes to Buffalo to be evaluated at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, he meets Janan and knows the sweet power of love for the first time. He also knows that, even if he lives, treatment for leukemia may leave a man unable to father children.

Realizing she has fallen in love with Pieter and fearing that life is passing her by, Janan asks him for one night. During that one night, cloistered in Room 203 of the venerable Roycroft Inn, Pieter teaches Janan the eight different kisses of seduction. It is a night that changes the lives of all.

Buy Links Kindle – Paperback

 

Eris Field was born in the Green Mountains of Vermont—Jericho, Vermont to be precise—close by the home of Wilson Bentley (aka Snowflake Bentley), the first person in the world to photograph snowflakes. She learned from her Vermont neighbors that pursuit of one’s dream is a worthwhile life goal.

As an impoverished student nurse at Albany Hospital, Eris met her future husband, an equally impoverished Turkish surgical intern who told her fascinating stories about the history of Turkey, the loss of the Ottoman Empire, and the painful experience of forced population exchanges.

After years of working as a nurse, teaching psychiatric nursing, and raising a family, Eris now writes novels–international, contemporary romances that incorporate her interest in psychiatry, history, people from different cultures, and the problems of refugees.

Although the characters in Eris’s novels are often from other countries—The Netherlands, Turkey, and Kurdistan— her novels are usually set in Western New York–The land of Father Baker, Jericho Road Refugee Center, the Buffalo Bills, Wings, and snow–chunky rain snow, lake-effect snow, horizontal snow, the snow of thunder snow storms, dry, fine snow, curtains of wet heavy snow, and whiteouts.

Learn more about Eris Field on her website. Stay connected on Facebook.

Wednesday Writers–Hair Calamities and Hot Cash by Gail Pallotta

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Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, excerpt from Hair Calamites and Hot Cash, Gail Pallotta, Hair Calamitites and Hot Cash, humorous romance, Inspirational romance, Mystery and suspense romance, Sweet romance

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes award-winning author Gail Pallotta. Gail’s been a guest a number of times on the blog. Today she’ll be talking about her newest book, Hair Calamities and Hot Cash, which Cynthia Hickey, author of the Shady Acres Mystery series, has called “A comedic romp from small town to big city in search of missing money, hair catastrophes, and love. A truly fun read.” I have to say, Gail, I love this title and the concept of the book. So, without any further ado, I’ll turn the blog over to Gail so she can tell you about the story’s origins. Keep reading to the end for an excerpt from Hair Calamities and Hot Cash.

 

Thanks, Catherine.

My mother’s beauty shop in a small town at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains inspired Hair Calamities and Hot Cash. Triville, the fictitious community, has a similar ambiance, but the book’s set at a higher elevation to include the breathtaking scenery.

Mother started her hairstylist career in a large North Carolina city in an upscale salon in a high-end department store with a formal atmosphere. However, when my father returned from World War II, he and Mother moved to the foothills of the North Carolina mountains.

In our garage turned beauty shop, she settled into her true calling—part hairdresser, part psychologist and friend. Chatter about dating, marriages, births and deaths echoed between the walls. Mother and her customers solved many a problem amid the mix of floral, sweet-smelling shampoo and caustic permanent solution, and the town was better off for it.

The folks who came there had their differences and disagreements, but they respected and accepted each other. They had best friends, acquaintances, folks they tolerated and others they kept at a distance. The customers caught up on the latest news and often gossiped about it, but when a crisis struck, prayers went up, casseroles went out and visitors poured to the home of the person in need.

I loved the care, concern and warmth the patrons had for one another and wanted to create such clientele in Hair Calamities and Hot Cash.

What happens when a New York stockbroker crashes his car into Eve Castleberry’s North Carolina beauty shop…on the same day the young widow’s defective hair products are causing wild hairdos?

Soon Eve finds herself helping the handsome stranger hunt the thieves who stole his client’s cash…and hot on the trail of two of the F.B.I.’s most-wanted criminals! Romance blossoms amid danger, suspense and Eve’s hair-brained plan to get back the money.

Philip eats so well as a visitor to Triville, N.C., he wonders if he’s gained weight. Eve suggests they stop by the general store and check it out on the scale there. An excerpt follows:

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Hair Calamities and Hot Cash

by Gail Pallotta

Excerpt:

The scale, which sat in a nook beside the counter for filling prescriptions, resembled those in doctors’ offices except the weight unit across the top beam was much larger.

Eve motioned toward it. “Here we are. Hop up there.”

Philip stood on the scale and moved the weight. Three hundred and fifty pounds. Was this thing defective? He must have done something wrong. He pushed the weight to the end and started over. Three hundred fifty pounds. “No way. I couldn’t have gained that much.”

Eve snickered.

He turned around and caught her an instant before she eased off. “I don’t believe you did that.”

She laughed out loud. She was full of fun.

Philip pulled her close, brushed the hair from her face and kissed her.

A door squeaked and Frank burst out of the storeroom. “Eve Castleberry, the two of you will have to find another place to…” He waved his large hand in their direction. “I’m going to lock up.”

Heat crawled up Philip’s neck. He felt like a kid who’d pulled a prank at church and gotten caught by the preacher.

Eve wiggled free and pointed her finger at him. “You’re not supposed to be doing that anywhere, and certainly not in public. Frank, we were just…”

Frank laughed. “Oh, yeah, I see you were. As far as I’m concerned, it’s about time, but not here.”

Eve sputtered as bad as the ornery car. “No Frank, we were, were…we came for Philip to weigh.”

Frank tapped his foot and stared at them with a twinkle in his green eyes as though he enjoyed embarrassing Eve.

Eve tilted up her chin. “Have you met Philip?”

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Want to read more? You can find Hair Calamities and Hot Cash on Amazon

 

About the Author:

Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former Grace Awards Finalist and a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner, she’s published five books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums.

Social media links: Website http://gailpallotta.com  Blog  Facebook

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers—Until I Met You Interview by Kimberly Rose Johnson

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A Christmas to Remember Collection, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Christian fiction, Christmas fiction, Clean read, excerpt from Until I Met You by Kimberly Rose Johnson, Kimberly Rose Johnson, Sweet read, Until I Met You

Today’s Wednesday Writers’ guest is Kimberly Rose Johnson. Kimberly is no stranger to Wednesday Writers, and I’m glad to have her back today talking about the Christmas collection A Christmas to Remember she’s put together just in time for the holidays, and specifically her novella Until I Met You. Welcome back, Kimberly!

 

 

 Thanks, Catherine.

In early 2018 I decided that I wanted to put together a Christmas collection so I posed the idea to several authors and all the spots were quickly taken. A Christmas to Remember has a total of eight Christmas novellas. My contribution to the collection is Until I Met You.

Until I Met You is the prequel to my Brides of Seattle series. There are two books that follow this one. As I wrote The Reluctant Groom (book 1) I realized Brandi needed her own book. Brandi is the best friend of the heroine in The Reluctant Groom.

Writing a prequel was quite a different experience since I had to back up and create the beginning of her love story. It was a fun process because when I wrote her in book one I hadn’t thought about how her romance how it had come about, I only knew the part of her backstory that related to Katie, the heroine in book one.

I thought it’d be fun to interview Brandi here.

 

Kimberly: Thanks for joining us today, Brandi. When you first met Ian you were taking a break from dating. What prompted you to do that?

Brandi: It seemed to me that I was always in a relationship—not that I bounced around from boyfriend to boyfriend, but for the most part I was the other half of a couple. Somewhere along the way I lost who I was and my relationship with the Lord had suffered. One of my small group leaders suggested I take a six-month hiatus from dating and spend that time digging into the Bible and getting to know God and myself again. It sounded like a great idea until I met Ian.

Kimberly: The two of you had an interesting meet cute.

Brandi: Yes. I for one will never forget it.

Kimberly: Speaking of your meet cute, I like to share it with the readers here today, if that’s okay with you.

Brandi: Sure.

Kimberly: Thanks, for taking the time to visit with us Brandi. Without further adieu here is the meet cute for Brandi and Ian.

Excerpt from Until I Met You

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Early Saturday morning, Brandi Prescott held her latte in one hand and opened the door to leave her favorite coffee shop in the Green Lake neighborhood of Seattle. She raised her hood and tightened the belt of her trench coat as rain pounded the ground.

“Bring it on.” She tilted her head and spoke to the black cloud overhead. Nothing was going to ruin her good mood. It might be a dreary fall day, but it was the weekend, and she planned to spend it reading beside a cozy fire in her apartment a few blocks away.

She walked to the crosswalk and frowned at the huge puddle of water blocking her path. How had it rained that much in such a short time? When she’d crossed the street, ten minutes ago, it had been fine. No way could she use the crosswalk without soaking her feet. She should have worn rubber boots instead of sneakers.

A vehicle careened through the yellow light. “Oh no!” She ducked her head as a wave of water splashed over her, knocking her latte from her hand. She balled her fists at her sides and glared after the red SUV.

“Of all the nerve!” She wiped water from her face, which had managed to get her even though she’d ducked her head.

The car braked and pulled into a parking spot. A man with dark hair hopped out. He jogged toward her. “Are you okay? I didn’t notice the standing water until it was too late.”

She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “My coffee is ruined, and I’m soaked. Otherwise, I’m fine.” She bent down and picked up the paper cup and the plastic lid that had popped off.

“I’m really sorry. Let me get you a new one.”

She studied the man a moment. His neatly trimmed beard and mustache framed a young face with kind brown eyes. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do, considering I nearly drowned you.”

She chuckled. “Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far. My coat did a pretty good job of keeping me dry.”

He raised a brow. “Come on. Let’s get out of the rain.” He walked toward the coffee shop and pulled open the door. “After you.”

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! You can pick this book up on Amazon for only 99¢ until December 30^th. The collection will no longer be available after that time. Here is the link to A Christmas to Remember.

Until I Met You

Graphic designer, Brandi Prescott hopes to work her way to the top at the Seattle ad agency where she’s employed. She’s dedicated and distraction-free since she’s taking a hiatus from men to focus on her relationship with the Lord and get to know herself without the influence of another person.

 Software engineer Ian Parker is in a good place. He loves his job, his social life and the direction his life is going. At least that is the case until one fateful rainy morning when he inadvertently drenches a woman standing on a street corner. He pulls over to apologize and is intrigued. The only problem is, she won’t go out with him because she made a pledge to not date for six months.

 Brandi’s six-month pledge ends on Christmas. Will Ian wait or will his scheming to get to know her destroy what might have been?

 

About the Author:

Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Connect with Kimberly at Kimberly’s Website: Facebook: Twitter

 

Wednesday Writers–On Angels’ Wings by Ginger Solomon

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Christmas romance, excerpt from On Angels' Wings, Ginger Solomon, Inspirational romance, On Angels' Wings, The Heart of Christmas Collenction

 

 

Today’s Wednesday writers’ guest is Ginger Solomon. Ginger’s been a guest before and today she’ll be sharing about her Christmas story On Angels’ Wings, which is part of the Christmas Collection The Heart of Christmas. Welcome, Ginger!

 

The First Holiday Season Without a Loved One

By Ginger Solomon

 

It’s always the hardest. You keep thinking that your loved one—whether a parent, sibling, or a spouse—would enjoy hearing about _________ (fill in the blank). You may even pick up the phone to call. And then the grief fills you all over again.

I’ve been there—a couple times. Both of my parents and one of my siblings have passed. Sadly, I wasn’t close to either of them, so my grief was not as great as it could have been, but I still felt their loss. I still missed their presence.

As does my character in my latest release, On Angels’ Wings. Jenna lost her twin sister and both of her parents in a freak car accident and will spend her first holiday season alone. Or so she thinks.

But her former neighbor—a woman who was like a second mother to her as she grew up—invites her to Thanksgiving dinner and won’t take no for an answer. She even sends her son, Thomas, to make sure Jenna comes.

Jenna isn’t sure she wants to spend so much time in Thomas’s presence. After all, the crush she had on him when she was a teen never quite went away, which she realizes the moment he walks into her bakery.

Thomas makes it his goal to give Jenna something else to think about besides missing her family. He doesn’t want her to forget her grief; he wants to help her through and to make her smile. And maybe a little more. With him.

Grief feels less burdensome when shared. Words are meaningless when a person grieves. Action, even just sitting with someone, means so much more. When my mother died, my sixth child was four days old. Friends and family congregated around me. They loved on me. Sometimes all they did was hold my baby while I cried. And that was enough.

Thomas came alongside Jenna, helped her decorate for Christmas, made her relax outside of her work, and took her mind off her problems by sharing his own.

As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”(ESV)

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On Angels’ Wings

by Ginger Solomon

Bakery owner, Jenna Wing prepares to spend Thanksgiving alone—her first without her family. When her former neighbor, Thomas Hayes, invites her to dinner, she finds that she can’t say no. Their previous friendship turns to something more, but Thomas’s family issues threatens their new-found relationship.

The Heart of Christmas Collection

Announcing five new stories filled with faith, hope, forgiveness, and of course happily-ever-afters. Each story focuses on an element of the Nativity, from the angels to the wise men. Be swept up in the love of the season and the promise of forever that the Christ child, the true Heart of Christmas, brings.

 

Excerpt: from On Angels’ Wings

(scene with Jenna and Thomas)

He sat at the table across from her—the only other seat available in her small kitchen. “Tell me what you were thinking in the cafe.”

Jenna inhaled the steam from her tea cup and then took a sip. “I miss them. Mostly I miss Keira.”

“Understandable. I’ve heard twins have an uncanny connection to each other.”

“We did, but more than that, she was my best friend. We were so excited to …” Fresh tears cascaded down her face. “She couldn’t wait to marry Titus. It made me happy to see her so happy. And seeing Titus today … it was hard. I’m sure the reverse is also true. He doesn’t seem to be doing well.”

“He’s not. He gets up and goes to work, and then comes home and watches TV or plays video games. His church attendance is nil. He’s angry with God for taking Keira from him.”

A small smile crossed her lips. “Yeah. I wanted to blame God, too, but God didn’t take my family. A truckload of poorly strapped logs did. Could God have stopped it? Yeah. Could He have made it so they weren’t in that space at that time? Yeah, He could have. I may never understand why things happened the way they did, but my job is not to understand His ways. My job is to trust Him even when I don’t. But it’s so hard.”

“Wow. I feel humbled. I’ve taken a few minutes of my time to rant at God about how unfair life is. You put me to shame.”

She rested her hand on his for a millisecond before blushing and pulling it back. “Don’t feel bad. I’ve had my moments. Just a few minutes ago, actually. I didn’t rant, but I did ask why. A simple heartfelt question that will probably not get answered. But something Mom taught us from a young age has helped. Life isn’t fair. No one ever said it would be. God has promised that we will go through trials, but He also promised to always be with us. I’m not going to stop trusting Him just because my life isn’t going exactly as I planned. The Psalms are full of David’s anger and questions, but God still called him a man after His own heart. Why? Because David admonished himself to remember who God is, and then he turned his anger into praise. God can and will give me ‘joyous blessing instead of mourning’ and ‘festive praise instead of despair.’ And in the meantime, I’m praising Him for the time I had with my family.”

“I came here to comfort you. Instead, I am comforted by your faith. I’m … words fail me.”

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Want to read more? You can find Ginger’s book here

About the Author

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.

Social Media:  Website  Facebook Author Page  Twitter @GingerS219

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–When the Geese Fly North by Tracey L. Dragon

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, dual-time romance, excerpt from When the Geese Fly North, Return to the Homefront series, Tracey L. Dragon, When the Geese Fly North

Today’s Wednesday Writers’ guest is Tracey L. Dragon. Tracey will be sharing her dual-time romance When The Geese Fly North – Book 2 of her Return to the Home Front Series. She’s also sharing an excerpt, so be sure to read to bottom of the post. Welcome, Tracey!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Catherine,

When the Geese Fly North is Book 2 of my Return to the Home Front Series. Like my novel Cherished Wings – Book 1 (Fran’s story), When the Geese Fly North is a dual time romance that begins in the present but weaves in and out of the past. When the Geese Fly North returns you to the town of Albion, NY during the late 1940’s where you will once again meet the characters from Cherished Wings. This time it’s is Amy’s story being told.

After I finished writing my novel Cherished Wings which was inspired by my own mother’s story and the pair of Navy wings she’d kept hidden in her dresser drawer, I discovered that I liked Amy Lake, a secondary character in the book so well that I thought she deserved a story of her own, and thus, When The Geese Fly North was created.

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When The Geese Fly North

By Tracey L. Dragon

Callie Baldwin, former Army nurse suffering with PTSD from her tour in Afghanistan, takes on a safe, low-key, nursing job caring for Will and Amy Henderson, an elderly couple who are long-time friends of the family. The only fly in the ointment is their annoying grandson, Dr. Michael Henderson, who manages to get under her skin during his weekly visits.

In an attempt to help Callie come to terms with her war experience, Will and Amy share their poignant love story that began in 1948 when Will, an emotionally and physically scarred Marine, takes on the job of farmhand for a newly divorced and bitter Amy. As the story unfolds, its beauty and richness transforms Callie as she learns the healing power of love.

 

Excerpt:

March 1948

Now that Amy could see Mr. Henderson in the broad daylight, she trembled inwardly at his visage, not in fright but more with curious fascination. Beside the fact he stood a good foot taller than her, and outweighed her by a hundred pounds, there was something in the depth of his eyes—a deeply held pain maybe, but she wasn’t sure. His lids briefly shuttered and when he opened them again the dark emotion was gone, and an amiable expression spread across his face.

“How’s the head this morning?”

Amy felt her cheeks flush with heat. She tucked her head, embarrassed. “Not good and I have you to thank for it.”

Will chuckled. “Sorry little lady, don’t think I should shoulder the brunt of the blame. All I did was pay for what you ordered.”

“And that’s the point.” She jabbed her finger at him. “If you hadn’t been buying, I wouldn’t have drunk quite as much. I couldn’t have afforded to.” She bit down on her tongue, wishing she’d kept that tidbit to herself. She had some pride after all. Irked that she’d admitted her precarious financial position to a mere stranger, she proceeded to cram the rest of her foot in her mouth. “If you hadn’t been plying me with drinks all evening, I wouldn’t have needed a ride home, and hence, I wouldn’t be forced to drive you back to Albion this morning, now would I?”

Will’s steady gaze locked with hers then shifted back toward the road. His lips pursed as if he were pondering her choice of words then he gave her a curt nod and limped off the porch.

Amy stepped back into the house and slammed the door behind her. Fine, she thought with a pout. He could go sit in the truck until she was ready to leave. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, horrified at her own rudeness to a man who’d been nothing but kind, an injured Marine to boot. Geez, what next? Kick a puppy while it’s down. She couldn’t have been any ruder if she tried. Her mother would be ashamed. What on earth had come over her? Just because she was bitter about Rob, didn’t mean she needed to take it out on the rest of mankind.

She glanced at the clock. If she didn’t hurry she’d be late for work two days in a row. She only had fifteen minutes to spare before she needed to leave. The dang man would have to wait a little longer.

 

Want to read more? You can find Tracey’s book at Amazon. Warning to readers of sweet, clean romance: this novel contains some mild language.

 

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About the Author:

Tracey L. Dragon is a relocated New Yorker, former Navy wife, and retired educator who now lives in Florida with her husband. After seven military moves, raising two Navy brats, and twenty years teaching troubled youth, she is now able to put her full attention to publishing the children’s stories and romance novels she’s written over the years. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and Florida Writers Association.

Look for Tracey on social media at http://traceyldragon.com/  and  https://facebook.com/traceyldragon