Welcome to the New Leash on Life Celebration Tour! #COZYMYSTERY #GIVEAWAY

 

About the Book

Book: New Leash on Life

Author: Kathleen Y’Barbo

Genre: Christian Fiction / Cozy Mystery

Release Date: October, 2023

How Is a Missing Military Working Dog Related to Two Local Fires?

Snuggle with your trusty hound and settle into a small-town mystery in book 6 of the Gone to the Dogs series.

Air Force veteran Dr. Lane Bishop and Nora Hernandez’s romance has cooled. He is busy working as a researcher at the vet school, and she’s busy with her restaurant and opening an antique shop. What Lane hasn’t told her is his PTSD, which manifests mostly with nightmares, makes him believe he’s damaged goods. But that is about to change when he meets a stray pup that acts a lot like a military working dog.

When a tornado hits Brenham, there is damage in the downtown area and a fire is ignited in Nora’s new store. A Belgian Malinois dog is seen at the fire and later Lane sees him at a wedding venue where an explosion occurs. Not long after, a second explosion rocks Brenham and sends Nora and Lane on a hunt for the person responsible. Will the pair find the guilty party before more damage is done to the city’s landmarks? And will Lane find the words to tell Nora how much he loves her before it’s too late? 

 My thoughts:   NEW LEASH ON LIFE is the newest book in this series set in Texas.  I enjoyed getting to know Lane and Nora and the newest animal to arrive on the scene, Pal.  Pal is a sweet dog and I really love how he reacts with Lane.

Lane and Nora seems on different sides of the dating totem pole. Are they serious or not?  Nora is ready to break up and doesn't seem to be in love, but then again, Lane has his doubts and hesitations too. What will it take to work it out and resolve their differences?  

If you like cozt mysteries and dogs and romance then you will love   NEW LEASE ON LIFE and all the other books in this series.  

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and bestselling author of more than one hundred books with over two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers. She would also be a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a few others if she would just remember to fill out the paperwork that Great Aunt Mary Beth has sent her more than once.

When she’s not spinning modern day tales about her wacky Southern relatives, Kathleen inserts an ancestor or two into her historical and mystery novels as well. Recent book releases include bestselling The Pirate Bride set in 1700s New Orleans and Galveston, its sequel The Alamo Bride set in 1836 Texas, which feature a few well-placed folks from history and a family tale of adventure on the high seas and on the coast of Texas. She also writes (mostly) relative-free cozy mystery novels for Guideposts Books.

Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and one very adorable Londoner.

More for Kathleen

You’ve most likely seen military working dogs (MWDs) on television shows or in the news. Maybe you’ve seen police dogs in action or read about them. They’re often fierce looking and always well-trained and intelligent. Along with their handler, the MWD is a brave and not so secret weapon in the military and law enforcement world. And did you know that an MWD always outranks his or her handler? It’s true.

I was very aware of all of this, but I had no idea what happened to these dogs when they were too old or perhaps physically unable to continue in their roles. People retire from their careers, so it makes sense that MWDs would as well.

I first learned about retired MWDs from watching my friend Ronie welcome a gorgeous Belgian Malinois, Vvolt, to her family. Anyone who knew the family or came to know Vvolt through social media fell in love with that dog. With his ears cocked just so and his bigger-than-life personality, I knew I had to write about him someday.

When I was given the opportunity to co-write a cozy mystery series with my dear friend, Janice Thompson, I knew one of those books would have to include an MWD. Because MWDs are used in so many situations, from military police work to bomb sniffing to PTSD care and more—I had to narrow down the choice of what my dog would be doing. I won’t give anything away, but I can tell you that Pal, the fictional Belgian Malinois in NEW LEASH ON LIFE is very good at what he does. He also loves a good Whataburger when his regular kibble isn’t available, but I digress.

When I set out to create the personality for Pal, I looked to what I knew and loved about Vvolt. Big personality, toothy grin, and the ability to run and jump like a champ were all included in my dog’s version of the MWD. And like Vvolt, my MWD develops a strong bond with his handler and the family who welcomes him into their home. Pal is loyal, friendly, and apt to stand between his people and danger at the slightest provocation.

Pal’s person in NEW LEASH ON LIFE is Dr. Lane Bishop, a Texas A&M University research veterinarian and Air Force veteran. Lane deals with nightmares that came out of his military experiences. As you can imagine, this causes an issue or two with Nora Hernandez, the woman Lane adores but has not shared his worries with.

Then along comes Pal, a stray (or is he?) with a habit of disappearing and then turning up at the most unlikely places just when he’s needed. I won’t give away the story, but let’s just say that sometimes it takes an animal to show the humans what needs to be done.

Perhaps all this talk about MWDs has you curious about them. Maybe you’re someone who would love to explore the opportunity to give a retired MWD a second chance. Check the Airforce 37th Training wing’s website for details on how this can be done: https://www.37trw.af.mil/Units/37th-Training-Group/341st-Training-Squadron/Military-Working-Dog-Adoption-Program/ .

NEW LEASH ON LIFE is the story of new starts and second chances, of how God can doesn’t just use humans to achieve His purposes. For this and so many other reasons, the tale of Lane and Nora and Pal is dedicated to the memory of Vvolt and his people.

Well done good and faithful servant.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 26

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 26

Wishful Endings, October 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 27

Texas Book-aholic, October 28

Karen Baney Reviews, October 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 30

Boodock Ramblings, October 30

Lighthouse-Academy, October 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 31

Blogging With Carol, November 1

For Him and My Family, November 1

Holly’s Book Corner, November 2

Mary Hake, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

Splashes of Joy, November 4

Pause for Tales, November 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 5

Bigreadersite, November 6

Cover Lover Book Review, November 6

Labor Not in Vain, November 7

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7

Lily’s Book Reviews, November 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28973/new-leash-on-life-celebration-tour-giveaway

Welcome to the Marshaling Her Heart tour! #Giveaway #Historical

About the Book

Book: Marshaling Her Heart

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: October 17, 2023

Will their lives and romance survive the trouble coming their way?

Becky Pruitt has always prided herself on knowing everything that’s happening on her successful ranch, so an unexpected admission from her foreman, Nate Paxton, comes as quite a surprise. With the notorious Deadeye Gang on the loose, Nate–a former U.S. Marshal–believes Becky’s ranch is the best spot for a group of Marshals to use as a base to hunt them down.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial for the town of Pine Valley, and Becky feels obligated to help. But after escaping the grasp of her harsh father, she’s never liked giving up control, of her life or her ranch. If there’s anyone she can trust with her ranch, and her heart, it might be Nate. But the outlaws won’t go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond.

 Marilyn's thoughts:    

 

Marshaling Her Heart is a wonderful conclusion to Wyoming Sunrise series. Becky suffered during her childhood but was one strong, determined rancher that knew her land and responsibilities. She was reluctant but willing to listen to her foreman Nate and his plan for her ranch as the Dead Eye Gang was still murdering and, robbing innocent lives.

 

An intriguing historical read from the beginning with plenty of unforeseen twists and turns, facing unbelievable facts, friendship that stood the test of time and faith to carry the cast of characters through every drama. Becky and Nate were compatible, understood the hardships and risks but had the same goal to capture the gang despite what truths could be discovered.

 

Mary Connealy created a great historical fiction series with elements of suspense, intrigue, romance and faith to keep readers engaged. I highly recommend reading the entire series to fans of historical romance.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and Bethany House Publisher without any obligation to write a positive review. I have expressed my own thoughts.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Mary Connealy (maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise, The Lumber Baron’s Daughters, Brothers in Arms, Brides of Hope Mountain, High Sierra Sweethearts, The Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

 

 

 

More from Mary

Becky Pruitt has a problem. Her ranch is being invaded by good guys.

Becky wants the Deadeye Gang caught and thrown in jail as much as anyone, but the lawmen asking her to hire them on at her ranch aim to do their investigating while working undercover as cowhands. She runs a good ranch, however, and doesn’t like the idea of a bunch of low-skilled men making her look like she’s hired them foolishly.

Yet she goes along with it, suspicious and annoyed, because her foreman, Nate Paxton, a man she trusts, convinces her that these men are honorable. Then the three lawmen she hires, all of them U.S. Marshals, urge her to send every single one of her regular cowhands—except Nate, a former Marshal himself—off on a cattle drive.

Now she’s got Marshals cropping up everywhere. Her ranch isn’t being run in a way that suits her. She’s got trouble with her father, and an important speaker is coming to town to talk about women’s suffrage. So much is distracting her when all she really wants to do is make sure her herd is being tended properly.

Before long, Nate starts to question the behavior of the U.S. Marshals Service. They’re secretive to the point that they put him in jeopardy a few times before he decides to quit. Here he’d found a decent job on a top ranch, and he even shared a few special moments with his pretty, feisty boss that gave him ideas of how he’d like to change things around a little just so he could be with her. And then his brother, who’s still a U.S. Marshal, invades the ranch with a few fellow lawmen. Quite a few.

Meanwhile, the Deadeye Gang is more dangerous than ever. The woman coming to Pine Valley to speak is now at risk, which makes Becky frantic to protect her. The cattle aren’t being looked after like they ought to be. And yet Nate finds himself being drawn closer to Becky with each passing day. He’s determined to stand firmly between her and danger, but he’s got to keep up with her to do that. He soon discovers that nothing is easy when it comes to the hard-charging Becky Pruitt.

Wyoming Sunrise is a series I wrote in which I cast women as having nontraditional jobs: Forged in Love has a woman blacksmith, Laws of Attraction a woman justice of the peace, and Marshaling Her Heart a woman rancher. Those are all nontraditional for sure, but not really in my case personally. I must force myself not to make all my heroines feisty lady ranchers. It’s almost a reflex at this point. I fought that reflex as hard as I could, but I decided it would be okay to sneak one lady rancher into this series, and that’s Becky Pruitt. I slipped her into the western vernacular, the tough attitude, the riding skirts and boots and Stetsons—and I loved it.

Marshaling Her Heart is my first true lady rancher, and so I let loose and had fun with Becky. The foreman Nate recognizes intelligence and competence in his boss, and he’s smart enough to take orders from her because he knows those orders are the right way to run the ranch.

Add in the backdrops of the other books in the series, the vicious, stagecoach-robbing Deadeye Gang, the coming of the lady suffragist speaker to town, and you’ve got a story full of trouble, action, adventure, romance, and fun.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Bizwings Book Blog, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 29

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 30

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesidelivingsite, October 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 1

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Connie’s History Classroom, November 2

Mary Hake, November 2

Wishful Endings, November 3

An Author’s Take, November 3

Betti Mace, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 4

For Him and My Family, November 5

Holly’s Book Corner, November 5

Splashes of Joy, November 6

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 6

Pause for Tales, November 7

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 8

Cover Lover Book Review, November 8

Labor Not in Vain, November 9

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of the entire Wyoming Sunrise series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28976/marshaling-her-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

Just Watch the Lines by Becky Van Vleet #Devotional #SundayThoughts

Through the years, each car my husband and I have purchased has advanced considerably with all thecomputerized features, always a learning curve, at least for me. When we purchased our Acura MDX, and I saw all the lines on the front panel for guided parking, pulling in, and backing out, I said, “Wowza!”

Another learning curve.

Not one to read the car manual, it was easier to ask my husband and get a tutorial straight from him.

“When I go in reverse, what does the orange line mean? And then, when I turn the steering wheel, theline turns to yellow and they change positions. What does that mean? What lines should I not cross when I’m close to the parked car?”

Well, simply put, he explained crossing the yellow lines next to a parked vehicle results in hitting the car.

“Keep it slow,” he said. “Just watch the lines.”

Good advice for me, especially when I’m in the Costco parking lot.

Do we watch the lines in our walk with God to avoid hitting spiritual road bumps that God’s word clearly instructs us to steer clear of? While we don’t have computerized cameras with a panel that displays the lines for how we conduct ourselves, we do have a manual—the Bible.

Sure, we can take shortcuts and get our tutorials from friends, family, and pastors, right? In our fast-paced culture, we have tendencies to take the road more traveled and utilize Lady Luck. But we just might cross lines we shouldn’t. The first and the last of it, we need the manual, the Bible.

God designed us and He knows what is best for us and our happiness. He put lines in place to accomplish His plan of salvation, that no man should perish. If we cross God’s lines, we’re certain to hit something.Heart injuries and internal conflict will occur, maybe even death. Adam and Eve, our first parents, crossed a line they never should have, and look what happened.

God doesn’t pull any punches when He says, “For the wages of sin is death . . .” (Romans 6:23 NKJV) We must read the manual and trust God’s lines. And if we do, we can enjoy the rest of this verse which reads, “. . . but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

Social Media Links:

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/

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

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

Amazon Central Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125841473-becky-van-vleet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beckyvanvleet9907

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becky-van-vleet

 

 

#Interview with Renee Ann Giggie about her new gluten-free #recipe book

 

 

BLURB:

As someone who loves bread, I can’t imagine not being able to eat any of it because of a gluten intolerance. I admit I don’t know much about Celiac’s disease, but hearing the stories my customers shared gave me a heart for these people. For some of them, it’s so severe, it’s a wonder they can eat anything at all.

That’s why when people kept asking me if any of my baked goods were gluten-free, I decided to try my hand at it. It’s also why I wanted to publish this book, so they can enjoy sweet treats too.

Whether you have an intolerance to gluten, have Celiac’s disease, or simply make it a personal choice not to eat gluten, it is my hope you’ll love these recipes and let others know about this book so they can benefit from it as well.

BUY HERE:  https://amzn.to/3PwVr0a

 

BIO:

Renee-Ann and her husband are retired and live in Alberta. They have two sons, and 5 grandsons – yes, she’s totally outnumbered and grateful for her two daughters-in-law. She’s also a novelist, baker, and card maker. She loves sightseeing, traveling, and cherishes every moment she spends with the family God has given her.

 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. How did you get into baking?

While recovering from two work-related injuries, I was looking for something to do. Someone suggested I start baking for the local market. I love puttering in the kitchen, so I decided to give it a try. I baked banana bread, pumpkin bread, brownies, and cookies. Little did I know what God had in store for me.

 

2. Why gluten-free?

I started with basic regular recipes. I had no idea there was such a demand for gluten-free until one by one, customers kept asking for it so I gave it a try. After a few failed attempts, and thanks to a very dear customer’s suggestion, I was able to come up with amazing recipes.

 

3. Did you bake only gluten-free?

No. It’s funny how God keeps opening doors. People asked for Vegan, Keto, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Sugar-free, one asked for energy balls. The list kept growing. If I wanted to keep my clientele growing, I had to give them what they were looking for. Fortunately, I was the only one at the market who had such a wide variety, so they kept coming back.

 

4. What separates your book from other gluten-free recipe books?

First, unless specified, most recipes in this book are low-sugar, low-fat, dairy-free, and nut-free. But all of them are gluten-free.

Second, and this is the best part, this book is for everyone. Whether or not you have a gluten-free intolerance, you can benefit from the amazing goodness of these recipes. If you don’t need gluten-free, all
you need to do is simply substitute the gluten-free flour with an equal amount of all-purpose regular flour. The rest of the recipe stays exactly the same.

 

5. How does it compare to regular?

You can’t tell it’s gluten-free. My breads are just as moist as the regular ones. I’ve heard people say gluten-free tastes like cardboard. False! My breads don’t. If they did, my customers would not have returned week after for over 3 years. One customer ordered 30+ lemon muffins on a weekly basis. Another wanted several banana breads.  

 

6. Why a recipe book?

When my husband and I moved across the country in March, my customers asked for my recipes. One of them suggested I wrote a book and I loved the idea because so many could benefit from it. Not only my customers but people with a gluten-free intolerance, celiac disease, or anyone else looking for amazing healthier quick bread and energy balls recipes.

P.S. There’s also an amazing scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth, chocolate peanut butter fudge recipe in there.