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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts

Sunday 12 September 2021

Honouring the Dogs of 9/11

Yesterday was the 20th Anniversary of the terrible events of 11th September, 2001.  While it is absolutely right and fitting that the brave men and women who worked tirelessly day and night to recover bodies and survivors from the rubble be remembered and honoured,  it is also right that we should remember as well the nearly 400 dogs called into action - Search and Rescue and Police K9 dogs who also risked their lives in the search, and Comfort and Therapy  dogs who were there to comfort the injured and grief stricken. One Search and Rescue dog was killed and many suffered burns and scorched paws. One SAR dog was so traumatized after finding two bodies of fire fighters, that he lay down, refusing to eat or interact, and had to be retired. (These dogs are trained to normally find living survivors rather than bodies.)

 As a dog lover, I found this video incredibly moving and a wonderful tribute to the dogs and their handlers, and all the courageous men and women who worked tirelessly for a month, digging in the rubble in the aftermath of that horrific event. 

 

 


For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.
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Sunday 26 January 2020

#WeekendWritingWarriors #SnippetSunday - The Matchmaker's mare - Megan needs to watch herself...



                                 Snippet Sunday Facebook  Group

Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above, there's something for all tastes.


Hi folks, 

I'm continuing snippets from the draft of my current 'work in progress' unpublished fantasy romance 'The Matchmaker's Mare' which takes place in Wales. The  story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is again from Megan's P.O.V. 

She has dropped by Glyn Phillips' farm in time to see his son, Huw, riding the strange pony that mysteriously appeared in one of his paddocks, and seemed to be unrideable. Skipping ahead a few pages, Glyn takes her into the kitchen to see how his old dog is doing, and the younger dog jumps up at her,
almost knocking her over.

SNIPPET

“I'm so sorry, I try to stop him jumping up at people - he’s only young, as I said, and he gets over excited.”

 “It’s okay,” she said with a grin, giving the collie a hug, “I love dogs. We always had dogs when I was a child and I really miss having one now.”

“You should get one then, there are plenty in the rehoming centre looking for a good home. I wouldn’t be without a dog, myself.”

“Oh, I’d love to,” she said, giving a little sigh, but it wouldn’t really be fair, since I’m at work a lot of the day. I’m thinking about getting a cat from the rescue centre though, although I’m really more of a dog person really. Perhaps one day, if I come into money and can retire…”

Glyn chuckled softly. “Sometimes if we want something enough we can find a way to make it happen.” 

Hmm, the man was a philosopher too, as well as devilishly handsome. She’d have to watch herself. It would be easy to fall for his gentle manners and good looks, and she wasn’t ready to commit to another relationship yet. It was rather satisfying to be completely independent, and to be able to organise her life to suit herself without having to consider someone else’s arrangements. Besides, she’d fancied herself in love once before and had her feelings and her trust betrayed. She wasn’t about to allow it to happen again.




 (This is only a rough draft to give the gist of the novel, and is subject to change and edits - and improvement on the creative punctuation which is needed  to adhere to the ten sentence rule!) Any feedback gratefully received.








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Thursday 26 September 2019

Remember the Rescue on Remember Me Thursday

A cause dear to my heart. There re so many dogs and cats waiting patiently for a loving home - many bewildered by a change of circumstances that was in no way their fault. If no-one adopts them,, sadly many of these poor animals will be euthanazed. PLEASE if you're thinking of having a puppy or a kitten, think again, don't buy from a breeder, go to a shelter and give a forever home to an animal that only asks for food and shelter and someone to love and care for him in return for their unconditional love. Remember, a shelter animal may well be traumatized by what they have been through in the past, or by being abandoned or given up by the owner they trusted to care for them, but although they may need a little time and patience, they are SO worth it. My little 'rescue Choccy' is testament to that.

Choccy on the day we brought him home from the shelter




 For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Monday 8 October 2018

Just Released! EMBRACE THE PASSION: PETS IN SPACE™ 3


EMBRACE THE PASSION: PETS IN SPACE™ 3


I'm so excited about this anthology -  great stories from great authors, helping  a great cause. I've read both previous anthologies - they were amazing and this one looks to be just as fantastic!


Apologies for the lateness in posting this, I've had major pc problems but at last I've managed to get the post up!


Anthology Blurb:
Pets in Space™ is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity. Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space™ authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space™ 3 today!

Release Date: October 9, 2017
Number of Pages:  a lot!
Word Count: (we’ll get back to you on that one)
ASIN: B07FNXKQJZ
ISBN-13:  978-1-942583-61-5
Publisher: Cats, Dogs and Otherworldly Creatures
Formats Available: ebook only
Price: $4.99


Pets in Space™ Anthology Storehttps://www.petsinspaceantho.com/store/

Cover Artist: Fiona Jade

Pet Illustrations: Nyssa Juneau

Everyone who subscribes to our newsletter will receive an exclusive, original and FREE Pets in Space™ 3 Coloring Book. This coloring book is only available with our newsletter.

Pets in Space™ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetsInSpace/


Charity: Our Charity is Hero-Dogs.org. Hero-Dogs.org improves the quality of life for our nation's heroes by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge with lifetime support of the partnerships. https://www.hero-dogs.org/


BUY LINKS









OVERVIEW OF STORIES  
HEART OF THE CAT: Sarafin Warriors Series
By S.E. Smith
Can love bridge the gap between a wounded alien warrior and the reclusive human woman who holds the future of his species inside her?

DESERT HUNTER: Galactic Gladiators Series
By Anna Hackett
Among the desert sands of an alien world, a man with secrets to hide finds himself face to face with the one woman who can bring him to his knees.

QUASHI: Mandrake Company Series
By Ruby Lionsdrake
Alien fur balls, a handsome doctor, and a little white lie create havoc for a young woman who only wanted a job.

STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER: The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott
A long-lost princess and her three-eyed cat seek refuge on the Nebula Zephyr only to catch the attention of an inquisitive Security Officer.

OPERATION ARK: Project Enterprise Series
By Pauline Baird Jones
A not quite routine mission to return rescued prisoners to their home worlds turns deadly for unlikely allies, a USMC Sergeant and a raised-by-robots pirate. Is the Sergeant’s unusual pet the wild card that will save or doom them?

CATS OF WAR: A Central Galactic Concordance Novella
by Carol Van Natta
A disgraced military Sub-Captain, a repair technician with secrets, and two special cats must save the day when trouble erupts at an important factory.

HUNTER OF THE TIDE: The Kraken #3
By Tiffany Roberts
Nearly broke by betrayal, a human discovers solace—and a chance for love—among the creatures he once hunted, but he must overcome prejudice and inhibition to claim the female he desires.

STARWAY
By Alexis Glynn Latner
A lonely interstellar pilot and a passenger’s mistreated consort find each other in an interstellar hotel that offers everything to satisfy its guests’ desires—even desires they didn’t know they had.

THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII
By E D Walker
Two ex-lovers, stranded in space, have to save a pair of kittens with hazardous powers before the local drug cartel catches up to them.

SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay
On a world of perpetual night, an aging ranger and a widowed veterinarian need to put aside their past to protect a pack of wolves... and their future.

AFTER THE FALL
By Kyndra Hatch
The Invaders took everything worth living for. Could an Invader show him how to live again?

STORY BLURBS
HEART OF THE CAT
By S.E. Smith

Series: Sarafin Warriors Book 3

Prince Walkyr d’Rojah’s mission is to find an ancient artifact known as the Heart of the Cat, a revered gem that holds the mystical power that connects his people with their cat-form. He isn’t the only one searching for the Heart. A secret sect determined to overthrow the royal families wants the power contained in the gem, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to obtain it.

Trescina Bukov’s affinity and ability to care for large cats has taken her all over the world. A frantic call from a rescue group compels her to fly to Wyoming in the western part of the United States. She is confused and wary when she discovers the injured leopard is more than he seems.

Walkyr is shocked when the human female caring for him connects with his leopard and recognizes who he is. Now, he has to contend with the assassins who followed him, his leopard who wants to claim the woman, and find out why all the clues in his search for the Heart of the Cat are pointing to a planet so far from home.

When Walkyr discovers the secret that Trescina has been hiding, he is forced to make a difficult decision: let her go, or kidnap her and return with her to his world. Can Walkyr convince Trescina that their lives are bound in more ways than one or will she flee, taking her secret and the future of the Sarafin species with her?

Loglines:
A human woman must decide between fleeing from the alien warrior who has come to her world or stand beside him and accept her destiny.

An alien warrior's connection with a human woman endangers her when assassins from his world target her.

Can love bridge the gap between a wounded alien warrior and the reclusive human woman who holds the future of his species inside her?

Confronted with her destiny, a reclusive woman must decide if she will flee or accept her place in a distant world.

When an alien warrior discovers the secret that the human woman caring for him has been hiding, he must make a difficult decision: let her go, or kidnap her and return with her to his world.

DESERT HUNTER
By Anna Hackett

Series: Galactic Gladiators

Mersi Kassar is a woman of the desert. Born, raised, and sold into servitude on the desert world of Carthago, she’s finally found her freedom and her place on the Corsair Caravan. She’s the right hand to the caravan master, and works leading travelers from the gladiator city of Kor Magna through the desert. She also works side by side with her friend—the big, silent Bren—a man she’s desperately in love with. But stubborn Bren shuts down her every attempt to deepen the feelings they have for each other and Mersi isn’t sure she can take the pain anymore.

Desert hunter Bren Hahn has secrets. Life taught him early to never share the terrifying darkness he hides within. He will protect the few people he cares about with everything he has, that includes the smart, lively woman he cares about most of all. A woman who sparks a simmering passion he finds harder and harder to ignore. But Bren knows the one thing he can’t live with is Mersi looking at him in horror. So even if it kills him, he vows to guard her from the most dangerous thing in the desert—himself.

On a perilous journey in the heart of the desert Mersi and Bren rescue a strange alien creature. Working together to heal the big, shaggy canine, their smoldering desire ignites, but their feelings turn out to be the least of their concerns. A deadly enemy is hunting their new pet. An enemy that threatens Bren’s darkest secret and all they hold dear. Will Mersi still feel the same for Bren if he has to unleash the darkness inside of him or will he lose the one woman who holds the key to his heart?

Loglines
Among the desert sands of an alien world, a man with secrets to hide finds himself face to face with the one woman who can bring him to his knees.

A determined desert woman who’s never let a challenge beat her and the strong, stubborn man who refuses to let her in.

A man who’s vowed to keep his darkest, most dangerous secret locked away forever faces the wild desert woman who threatens his heart and his control.

QUASHI
By Ruby Lionsdrake

Series: The Mandrake Company

"If she’d had a hand free, she would have scratched her head. Lab rats didn’t trill, did they?”

When Chanda decided to finagle her way into a job she wasn’t qualified for, she didn’t expect to end up on a ship full of hulking mercenaries. They’re rude, crude, and so covered with scars and tattoos that she can’t imagine any woman being interested in them. Except perhaps for the soft-spoken doctor with the haunted eyes.

She would love to know more about him, especially since he stares at the game logo on her T-shirt rather than her breasts, but a little problem comes aboard the ship at the same time she does. Quashi. Furry alien fluff balls with stubby legs and very expressive antennae. Are they harmless – or a danger to the ship? And why were they in a box labeled lab rats?

When some of the creatures go missing and systems start malfunctioning, Chanda is assigned the task of quashi wrangler. Though she’s worried she isn’t qualified, the intriguing doctor is also sent to help, and she’s determined not to fail in front of him. Maybe this is her chance to find out what network games he plays and why his past troubles him. But as the lights flicker and the ship’s life support systems are threatened, Chanda realizes there might not be time for romance. If they can’t round up the missing quashi before it’s too late, she may never see home again.

Loglines:
Alien fur balls, a handsome doctor, and a little white lie create havoc for a young woman who only wanted a job.

Hiding the fact she is in a job she isn’t qualified for, a young woman must join forces with an intriguing doctor to save the alien fur balls threatening the space ship they are on.

When she lies about her qualifications to get a job, a young woman finds herself in deep trouble as she fights her attraction to the handsome doctor and her attachment to the alien fur balls threatening the space ship she is on.

Should lab tech Chanda worry more about the hulking mercenaries, the furry alien fluff balls or the ship’s failing life support systems? The answer might surprise you but the ship’s intriguing doctor has the right prescription.

STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
By Veronica Scott

Series: The Sectors SF Romance Series

Tassia Megg is a woman on the run after the death of her elderly guardian. Her search to get off the planet in a hurry comes when chance directs her to an open dance audition for the luxury cruise liner Nebula Zephyr’s resident troupe. If there is one thing Tassia can do, it is dance!

Security Officer Liam Austin is suspicious of the newest performer to join the Comettes. She shows all the signs of being a woman on the run and seems to fit the Sectors-wide broadcast description of a missing thief, accused of stealing priceless artifacts. As he gets to know Tassia during the cruise, he starts to wonder if she’s something more – a long vanished princess in hiding from deadly political enemies of her family perhaps? And what’s the story with the three-eyed feline companion other crew members swear Tassia brought aboard the ship? Does the animal even exist?

As the ship approaches its next port of call, all the issues come to a boil and Liam must decide if he’ll step in to help Tassia or betray her. Life is about to get very interesting aboard the Nebula Zephyr as Liam tries to uncover the truth. Could F’rrh, the peculiar alien cat he has been hearing about, be the key to the mystery and Tassia’s fate?

Loglines:
A long-lost princess on the run with her three eyed cat takes refuge on the Nebula Zephyr.

The Security Officer on board the Nebula Zephyr must decide whether to help the intriguing new dancer or arrest her.

A long-lost princess and her three-eyed cat seek refuge on the Nebula Zephyr only to catch the attention of an inquisitive Security Officer.

OPERATION ARK
By Pauline Baird Jones

Series: Project Enterprise

She’s a USMC Sergeant deployed to the Garradian Galaxy.

He was raised by the robots who freed him from slavery.

It’s a match made nowhere anyone can figure out.

They clashed as enemies but joined forces to defeat a common foe. Now they’re tasked with returning some freed prisoners to their home worlds. In the next galaxy. With an alien, a robot, and a caticorn. It was a bar joke without a punch line, though Carolina City has a feeling it is out there—like the truth.

Kraye isn’t eager to return to his galaxy where the dark secret of his past lays in wait, but he’s willing to risk it in hopes that Caro can teach him what the robots couldn’t: how to be human.

Together they must face a dangerous journey, a lethal enemy with a score to settle, their unexpected desire, and an uncertain future if they make it out alive.

Can Caro and Kraye navigate the minefields—both emotional and space based—to land a happy homecoming for the sentient animals in their care? Can the man raised by robots learn how to kiss the girl while the starchy Marine decides if she is willing to bend the rules for a happy ever after? Don’t miss Pauline Baird Jones’ newest Project Enterprise story!

Loglines:
A not quite routine mission to return rescued prisoners to their home worlds turns deadly for unlikely allies, a USMC Sergeant and a raised-by-robots pirate. Is the sergeant’s unusual pet the wild card that will save or doom them?

She used to be a by-the-book USMC Sergeant. He’s never owned a book. Can an unusual pet bring these two together in time to save lives and complete their mission?

Love blooms, and danger threatens, when an unlikely couple, aided by her unusual pet, risk their lives to return newly released prisoners to their home worlds.

CATS OF WAR
by Carol Van Natta

Series: A Central Galactic Concordance Novella

Military Sub-Captain Kedron Tauceti counts the days until he can leave the rare metals factory and his current duty station as the liaison to the Criminal Restitution and Indenture Obligation system. The post was protection—and punishment—for exposing a theft ring in his previous assignment. He's more than ready to get his career back on track on a new base halfway across the galaxy, even if it means leaving behind the one person who makes him want to stay. Not that he's told her, because technically, he's her warden.

Former financial specialist and current indenturee Ferra Barray, hiding from her past, only has three months to go on her restitution sentence. She's lucked into a tech repair job, and If she keeps her head down, she'll be free to figure out her future. Unfortunately, the local boss behind every illegal scheme in the facility wants her to steal for him, and she's running out of excuses. And now the heroically handsome Tauceti, who she hoped could help, is transferring out.

Everything changes when Ferra discovers two genetically modified cats. Saving them takes incredible risks. She doesn't know what she'll do if she can't convince Tauceti to take them with him and keep them until she's free to come for them.

When trouble erupts at the factory, it might just be the cats who save them. Find out what happens in this exciting stand-alone novella from Carol Van Natta's award-winning Central Galactic Concordance space opera series.

Loglines:
A disgraced military Sub-Captain, a repair technician with secrets, and two special cats must save the day when trouble erupts at an important factory.

A repair technician must convince a disgraced military Sub-Captain to help her save two special cats before trouble engulfs them all.

A disgraced military Sub-Captain must decide between redeeming his career or helping a repair technician rescue two special cats.

HUNTER OF THE TIDE
By Tiffany Roberts

Series: The Kraken #3

HIS SOLACE AND HIS HOPE

Randall Laster crossed Halora to hunt the kraken, sea monsters that weren’t supposed to be real. Betrayed by men he trusted, he was left to die. Instead, he finds himself living with the beings once meant to be his prey. Randall struggles to find his place amongst the kraken and to find a purpose to the new course his life has taken. Hope comes in two unexpected forms: an injured, amphibious sea creature in need of care, and Rhea, a strong-willed kraken who’s made no secret of her interest in him. Can he reconcile the tensions between humans and kraken and look beyond their differences so that he can claim Rhea as his own, or will old prejudices and hostilities tear them apart forever?

Loglines:
Nearly broke by betrayal, a human discovers solace—and a chance for love—among the creatures he once hunted, but he must overcome prejudice and inhibition to claim the female he desires.

Taken in by the beings he once hunted, a human finds himself enthralled by a kraken female—but they must overcome growing hostility between their people if their relationship is to blossom.

When his world crumbles and he is taken in by the creatures he once hunted, a human finds the key to his salvation—and his heart—in a fierce, alluring kraken female.

STARWAY
By Alexis Glynn Latner

Starway is an interstellar hotel that offers guests something to satisfy almost any wish—even wishes they didn’t know they had.

Nikka Steel is a lonely interstellar pilot. Danyel Parry is a wealthy passenger’s mistreated consort. When they find each other in Starway, they discover how much they have in common, including remorseless enemies and resourceful friends—one of which has four paws—and mutual attraction as perilous as it is powerful.

Danyel and Nikka soon realize that they have a hopeful new destination. The interstellar crossroads at Starway can take travelers to many places, some of which are strange and secret. To get there, though, they will have to find their way through anger, danger and—even more frightening—change.

Loglines:
A lonely interstellar pilot and a passenger’s mistreated consort find each other in an interstellar hotel that offers everything to satisfy its guests’ desires—even desires they didn’t know they had.

At an interstellar crossroads hotel, a lonely pilot and a mistreated consort discover that they have the same destination: the intersection of danger and desire.

The interstellar hotel called Starway is on the way to many places, and after they find each other in Starway, a lonely pilot and a passenger’s consort discover a new and dangerous destination.

THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII
By E D Walker

Zandro alienated the love of his life years ago with one giant mistake. Consumed by his animal rescue work, he didn’t realize what he had given up until she was gone. Now, his work to save two alien kittens with dangerous pheromones will reunite him with his old flame – and hopefully give him a second chance.

Aliette’s work as a space captain keeps her mind off of what she lost – Zandro – or it did until she receives his desperate plea for help. She reluctantly agrees to assist him for old time’s sake. But the simple transport mission quickly escalates into a fight for survival. The local drug cartel has discovered the unusual kittens and will do anything to obtain them.

With dangerous events and concern for the vulnerable kittens drawing them close again, Aliette will have to decide if being with Zandro is worth sacrificing everything for – even her life.

Loglines
Two ex-lovers, stranded in space, have to save a pair of kittens with hazardous powers before the local drug cartel catches up to them.

Two ex-lovers are trapped together on a ship after saving a pair of dangerous (but adorable) alien kittens. Some local drug dealers are on their tail so they need to get the ship repaired fast. If for no other reason so they can keep themselves from falling back in love.

A workaholic and a space captain reunite to save the lives of two very, very special alien kittens – and find themselves in a fight for their lives.

SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay

Loss casts a shadow you can’t outrun…

Commander Rafe Penzak is tired of jockeying a desk. With only months left before his forced retirement from the rangers, he decides to bend a few rules for one last mission: follow up on intelligence that vicious criminals have found the ranch that supplies the rangers’ umbra wolves. He’s ready to confront the reminder of his wolf’s death, but nothing in the Three Systems could prepare him for the spitfire who runs the farm.

Veterinarian Nafisi Sultana has run her wolf breeding program her way since the death of her husband. The last thing she wants is another ranger taking up space, correcting her methods, or being underfoot. But she can’t miss the pain and sorrow that haunts the greying commander, and her need to heal others pulls her into his orbit despite the agonizing memories he wakes in her.

With storms, raiders, and a renegade wolf pup driving them together, Nafisi and Rafe have to set aside their damaged past, or they’ll never be able to save something they both want more—a future.

Loglines:
On a world of perpetual night, an aging ranger and a widowed veterinarian need to put aside their past to protect a pack of wolves... and their future.

They’d lost almost everything they cared about, until they found each other.

A broken-down ranger and an angry widow have to find common ground, or risk losing the only thing left that they both care about.

The past can cast a shadow you can’t outrun...

AFTER THE FALL
By Kyndra Hatch

A'ryk Chiste of Korth marooned himself on an uninhabited world for a reason. He doesn’t want to be reminded of a galaxy where his people lost the war, taken over by the merciless Invaders who changed his life forever. A galaxy where he failed at the one thing he was born for, to protect worlds. He wants no part of the shaky forced ‘peace.’ So when an Invader crashes onto his planet, the simple solution is to let her die. But his furry companions have other ideas.

Lyra Merrick is a surveyor for the Earth Council of Habitable Worlds. She searches for and reports planets that can be terraformed for human survival, comfort and stability. It is business as usual when she finds another planet in a little-known section of the galaxy. A routine mission turns into a fight for survival when her ship has a malfunction and she crashes to the icy, unrelenting world. When she comes to, she hears a voice in her head. Confused, she wonders if the lonely existence of a surveyor finally made her crazy. Not only is she hearing things, her eyes are deceiving her too, because she's in the domicile of the sexiest man she's ever seen.

Loglines:
The Invaders took everything worth living for. Could an Invader show him how to live again?

Stuck on an abandoned world with a lawless Savage. Could she see him for what he truly is?

A former planetary defender seeks exile on an uninhabited world he claims as his own, preferably without an Invader crashing in to take it from him.

A surveyor of planets searches for habitable worlds, preferably without opposition from a Savage squatter.

A former planetary defender seeks exile on an uninhabited world. An Invader crashing in to take it from him? Not going to happen.

A surveyor of planets searches for habitable worlds. Opposition from a Savage squatter is not part of the job description.

AUTHOR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
S.E. Smith
FB Handle: @se.smith.5
Twitter Handle: @SESmithFL
Instagram Handle: @sesmithfl

Anna Hackett
FB Handle: @AnnaHackettAuthor
Twitter Handle: @AnnaHackett

Ruby Lionsdrake
FB Handle: @rubylionsdrake

Veronica Scott
FB Handle: @VeronicaScottAuthor
Twitter Handle: @VScottTheAuthor
Instagram: @veronica_scott_author

Pauline Baird Jones
FB Handle: @AuthorPaulineBairdJones
Twitter Handle: @PaulineBJones
Instagram Handle: @paulinebjones

Carol Van Natta
FB Handle: @CarolVanNattaAuthor
Instagram Handle: @carol.vannatta

Tiffany Roberts
FB Handle: @AuthorTiffanyRoberts
Twitter Handle: @TiffanyRobertsF
Instagram Handle: @authortiffanyroberts

Alexis Glynn Latner
FB Handle: @AuthorAlexisGlynnLatner
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisGLatner
Twitter Handle: @AlexisGLatner

E D Walker
FB Handle: @E.D.WalkerWrites
Twitter Handle: @authoredw
Instagram Handle: @elizawalkerauthor

JC Hay
FB Handle: @AuthorJCHay
Twitter Handle: @j_c_hay

Kyndra Hatch
FB Handle: @kyndrahatch

MARKETING BY GET MY BOOK OUT THERE
Narelle Todd
Website: http://getmybookoutthere.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getmybookoutthere
FB Handle: @getmybookoutthere
Twitter: https://twitter.com/getmybookout
Twitter Handle: @GetMyBookOut




Want to Know More? Want to Chat with Our Authors on Your Blog?
Please feel free to contact each author direct or contact Narelle Todd at GetMyBookOutThere.com for more information. We would love your help in raising as much money as possible for our charity, Hero-Dogs.org, by helping us spread the word of this anthology.




For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Tuesday 26 September 2017

#PetsInSpace Spotlight - Novellas about delightful other-worldly pets


As a Science Fiction Romance writer myself, and an avid animal lover, I can't wait to read this new collection of novellas.  I loved the first book and am thrilled to be able to help get the word out for this new one, and can't wait to read it myself! Here's a taster of what to expect from these amazing and talented writers.

Embrace the Romance:  Pets in Space 2 Anthology

#PetsInSpace

Genre: Science Fiction Romance,
Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Cats, Dogs and Other Worldly Creatures

Date of Publication: October 10, 2017

ASIN: B073W5WQBH
ISBN Ebook: 978-1-942583-56-1
ISBN-10: 1-942583-57-5
ISBN-13: 978-1-942583-57-8

Number of pages: 826 (paperback)
Word Count: 220,000

Cover Design: Fiona Jade

Release Date: October 10, 2017

The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors, brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!

10% of all preorders and the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

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Pets in Space Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetsInSpace/



An Emu and their Dragon?

By S.E. Smith

Once upon a time in the not so distant future… or past… well, one of those… there lived a mighty mob of emus….

Yes, I can hear your brain screeching to a stop as you reread the introduction. The answer to your question is yes, large groups of emus are called mobs. Of course, that brings up all kinds of wonderful images in your head: The Boss emu ordering the unlikely demise of a poacher intent on capturing them, an army ready to do battle against the huge mob of emus (BTW, this really happened in 1932 in Australia – the winner: the emus!), or the emus coming to the rescue. Oh, just think of all the lovely stories that can be written for the mysterious and mighty bird that hatch from the eggs a little Dragonling carried home.

It is funny how some things just come to you. They often say right about something you know. Well, I’m no expert on emus, but it helps that we pass by a friend’s house that raises them. The stories Tom has told us about his attempts to raise emus for meat which quickly turned to them all having names and being pets has amused me for years. When I wrote The Dragonlings’ Very Special Valentine and The Great Easter Bunny Hunt, I knew I had to write Pearl’s story – and include the very unusual eggs that were brought back from Earth.
In Pearl’s Dragon, we get to meet the unlikely heroes who are as protective of their dragon friends as the dragons are of them. A clutch of eggs from Earth, a misunderstanding, love between an old dragon and his true mate, a couple of mischievous younglings, poachers, and a lesson in how to be the perfect mate come together in Pearl’s Dragon: Dragon Lords of Valdier.

S.E. Smith is an Internationally Acclaimed, Award-Winning, New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away. Readers can join her at:

PEARL’S DRAGON
A Novella in the Dragon Lords of Valdier Series
By S.E. Smith (New York Times/USA TODAY Bestselling Author)

Asim Kemark has lived a long, lonely life. It is only his pledge to his former king and to Mandra Reykill that keeps him, his dragon, and his symbiot from going crazy. He has given up on ever finding his true mate and devotes himself to caring for the wide assortment of creatures on Mandra and Ariel’s mountain retreat. The last thing he expects when he visits the palace is to lose control of his dragon and his symbiot when they sense their true mate. Before he knows it, he has kidnapped her!

Pearl St. Claire is enjoying a new adventure – learning to live on an alien planet. As a mature woman in her sixties, she thought she had experienced just about everything life could throw at her – only to discover she really hasn’t experienced anything yet! She is both amused and exasperated when one of the dragon-shifting aliens kidnaps her, believing she is his true mate.

Life is no longer boring or lonely as Asim courts the spirited human woman who has enchanted him, but he isn’t the only one who has noticed Pearl or the unusual animals under his care. When poachers attack, determined to steal the exotic creatures under his protection – including Pearl and a new clutch of alien eggs from Earth - he will do everything he can to protect them. Can one dragon keep the most precious creatures under his care safe, or will he lose the biggest battle of his life?





About the Author:

S.E. Smith is a New York Times, USA TODAY, International, and Award-Winning Bestselling author of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away. 


Website: http://sesmithfl.com/
Instagram: @sesmithfl

A GRIM PET
A Novella in the Tornian Series
By M.K. Eidem (USA TODAY Bestselling Author)

The Great Raptor is a fearsome and deadly creature; and while the raptor is no one’s pet, he is fiercely protective and loving of his family…

Carly and Miki have never forgotten the story that Grim told them of the Great Raptor, the symbol of their new home world Luda. Yet, it is the comparison their mother once told them of the Great Raptor to Grim that gives them the courage to help the injured bird they find in the garden.

Find out what happens when their single act of love, faith, and kindness creates far-reaching consequences that no one, including their mother and Grim, could ever have predicted.





About the Author:

I have always loved to read and writing is just a natural extension of this for me. Growing up I loved to extend the stories of my favorite books and TV shows just to see where the characters went. I've been happily married for over twenty-five years to an awesome man and have two great kids. Now that the kids are out of the house, at least most of the time, I've found I have the time to write again. USA Today Bestselling Author. 


Website: http://www.mkeidem.com
THE PRINCE, THE PILOT, AND THE PUPPY
“Star Puppy” A Novella in The Star Series
By Susan Grant (New York Times/USA TODAY Bestselling, and RITA Award Winning Author)

Trysh joined the Space Forces with the secret hope that her absentee father might notice her accomplishments and acknowledge her. At the top of her game as a starfighter pilot, the last thing she needs is a way too charming prince to get in her way. Trysh had learned at a young age what happened when a person lost their heart to someone above their social class – it led to heartache.

Prince Rornn feels fortunate he can pursue his passion both in the air and on the ground. He decides being third in line for the throne definitely has its advantages – it allowed him to join the Space Forces as a top-gun starfighter pilot. What he doesn’t expect is to find a woman there who not only competes with him – she completes him!

Everything Rornn tries appears to push Trysh further away – that is until they rescue a tiny, starving yipwag pup from an alien world. It turns out that “Puppy” is as good at sniffing out terrorists as she is at helping her two clueless humans figure out that they need each other as much as they do her.

Can Rornn convince Trysh that he is nothing like her father and that she is just the right woman for him before the terrorists discover their furry little companion?





About the Author:

When NY Times/USA Today bestselling author and Air Force veteran Susan Grant isn't driving an 18-wheeler (a 747 jumbo jet) she loves writing romantic, action-packed stories featuring gutsy woman and honorable men. Flying to exotic places and trying every kind of food imaginable helps Susan bring her sci-fi worlds alive for readers. She is a winner of the prestigious RITA award for her book Contact, an alien abduction sf romance.

Website: http://www.susangrant.com/
WIRED FOR LOVE
By Michelle Howard

Hunter Gils has put his past in the military behind him. Now his focus is on his bar and the less than savory clientele. Life is perfect – except for a gray-eyed beauty who refuses his advances.

Narelle Bindu wasn’t immune to the tall, dark stranger working at The Zone. He wanted her – and she wanted him. The only drawback was she didn’t have room in her life for a man, not even one as tempting as Hunter.

When a deadly attack creates the perfect opening for an old enemy, the two lovers must work together to survive. What they never expect is to find an ally willing to help them – even if that help has four legs. Can their four-legged friend keep Hunter and Narelle alive long enough to find out that one night would never be enough?





About the Author:

Michelle Howard like many authors dreamed of writing since reading her first romance novel many years ago.  She loves paranormal and contemporary romances and is a fan of the classic romances by Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood. I love to hear from fans so please reach out to me. If the mood hits you, leave a review. 

Website: http://www.michellehowardwrites.com
Instagram: @mhowardwrites
RESCUED BY THE CYBORG
A Novella in the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance Series
By Cara Bristol (USA TODAY Bestselling Author)

A cyborg’s haunted past and a Faria’s clouded future entwine…

Hostage and sole survivor Solia waits for death at the hands of vicious predatory aliens when Cy-Ops agent Guy Roarke disobeys orders and charges in. A former medic, he initiates emergency medical procedures before rushing her to Cybermed.

Guy is taken with Solia, but the guilt of a past mistake won’t allow him to plan for a future with the delicate, brave beauty. Life is so uncertain, he can’t even keep Mittzi, the kitten his niece gave him. What he can do is see to it Solia gets the help she needs for a full recovery. But when best intentions place her in greater danger, it’s up to a little kitten to make everything all right again.



About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Cara Bristol writes steamy science fiction romance with an emphasis on the characters and their romance, with a little humor, heat, and danger added for fun. She is the author of three science fiction romance series: sexy cyborg Cy-Ops Scifi Romance series, the dark erotic Breeder series, and the new humorous Alien Mate series. She likes to say that she writes science fiction for readers who don’t like sci-fi.  Cara lives in Missouri with her alpha hero, her husband, and Hannah, her cat and writing supervisor. 

Website: http://carabristol.com/
Instagram: @authorcarabristol

STAR CRUISE: SONGBIRD
A Novella in The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott

Grant Barton, a Security Officer on the Nebula Zephyr, is less than thrilled with his current assignment to guard an Interstellar singing sensation while she’s on board the ship. It doesn’t help that he and his military war bird Valkyr are dealing with their recent separation from the Sectors Special Forces and uncertainty over their future, with their own planet in ruins.

Karissa Dawnstar is on top of the charts and seemingly has it all – talent, fame, fortune and devoted fans, but behind her brave smile and upbeat lyrics she hides an aching heart. When a publicity stunt goes wrong, Karissa finds herself in the arms of the security officer assigned to protect her – and discovers a mutual attraction she can’t ignore.

Trouble continues to plague the pair, driving a wedge between them and leaving Grant certain that Karissa is in more danger than she realizes, from overzealous fans and her own management. Grant is determined to protect Karissa whether she wants his help or not. Can he discover the truth behind what’s going on before he loses Karissa or is there someone else plotting to keep them apart – permanently?


About the Author:


Best Selling Science Fiction, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance author, as well as the “SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happy Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.

Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances! She recently was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”

Website: https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/
Instagram: @veronica_scott_author

TIME TRAP
A Novella in the Project Enterprise Series
By Pauline Baird Jones

Hiding in time is not as easy as you’d think…

Madison lives by the rules of a time travel rebel – never tell anyone your real name, not if you want to remain alive. On the track of a traitor, Madison and her parrot partner, Sir Rupert, time travel into a trap. Their only way out sends them back in time and into the arms of a man that ignites a fire inside her.

USAF Master Sergeant Briggs is in trouble – not the kind he’d like to be, but still in trouble. He is bored out of his mind! Ordered to recuperate on a quiet bay away from the Garradian outpost, he’s ready to mutiny and go back to his beloved engines. When his friends send him a gift from Area 51, he figures it will relieve his boredom for an hour or so – until he turns it on and he gets his second present of the day.

Madison would love to get to know Briggs better, but it is just too dangerous. Unfortunately, she might not have much choice. With a Time Service Interdiction Force on their heels, can the three craft a plan that will save a base full of geniuses and technology and discover a happy-ever-after forged through time?



About the Author:

Pauline doesn’t love reality so she writes books. She tends to wander among the genres, rampaging like Godzilla (they were born the same year) through her characters lives, mixing peril and humor into her romance, but she always delivers a happy ending.

Website: http://paulinebjones.com
Instagram: @paulinebjones
COURTING DISASTER: STARDOG 2
A Novella in the Inherited Stars Universe Series
By Laurie A. Green

From monk to married…

Captain Navene Jagger’s certainty he will be promoted to command a new battleship is doused when the admiral instead assigns him on what appears to be a suicide mission. If that wasn’t bad enough, he finds his self-imposed decision to be a military monk is thrown to the far reaches of the galaxy when he is ordered to escort Ketsia Tayah and her StarDog through the treacherous, rogue-infested Bradley’s Rift in a battered derelict of a vessel – a task that also makes him have to confront his painful past.

Ketsia’s past had taught her a lot. The universe was not only a very dangerous place, it turns out that it is also a lot smaller than she would have liked! Ketsia is rattled when she discovers that she and her StarDog are to be escorted by the man she formerly had a crush on. She swears life couldn’t get any more complicated until they are thrown into jeopardy and have to pretend they are married!

Jag soon realizes there is more at stake than his pride when dangerous rogues threaten their spaceship. After he learns the ship, the mission, and the StarDog are all much more than they seem will he be able to save Ketsia, his career, and the day? Or will self-sacrifice be the only way to save those under his protection?






About the Author:

Laurie A. Green is a three-time RWA Golden Heart® finalist, an award-winning author, and a science fiction romance enthusiast who founded the SFR Brigade community of writers, which is now over 1,000 members strong. 

She confesses to being an Andromeda Galaxy groupie and would someday love to own a vacation home on Mars or Titan. She's enthused to be a part of this wonderful anthology mash-up of two of her favorite things--pets and space.

Her family includes her husband, David, five dogs, three cats and several horses, all who reside on a ranch in beautiful New Mexico. A former military budget director and reserve state trooper, she now spends her time writing, networking, researching, enjoying the Southwestern lifestyle and, naturally, stargazing and daydreaming about other worlds.

Website: http://www.laurieagreen.com/

A Novella in the Alien Attachments Series
By Sabine Priestley

Marco Dar’s position as an Earth Protector means he spends an incredible amount of time alone in space. His only company is with the talkative com unit. It isn’t until he stops at the Galaxy Spinner restaurant that he discovers his com has become sentient – and it wants a physical form!

Dr. Zara Mancini hasn’t seen Marco Dar in over eleven years. As far as she is concerned, that still isn’t long enough. When Marco approaches her with an unusual request, she is torn between her fascination with the project, and wanting to leave him eating her space dust.

Marco is quickly falling all over again for Zara’s beautiful smile and gorgeous lips. Young and foolish, he sabotaged their relationship years ago. Now he has a second chance. Can he convince Zara to help his AI, and prove to her that he is a different man?




About the Author:

Multi published author of Sci-Fi Rom and Urban Fantasy.

Sabine grew up consuming Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance novels (there was a brief bodice ripper period, but we won’t go into that).

She wanted to be an astronaut and travel the stars. She ended up an Electrical Engineer and Cultural Anthropologist. She's a geek with heart.

Seriously disappointed we’ve yet to establish so much as a moon base, she’s encouraged by the recent developments by superstars such as Elon Musk, Sir Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, among others.

She’s a travel addict, beach-loving, stargazing disruptor. Her heroines are kickass and her stories action packed.

Website: http://www.sabinepriestley.com
Instagram: @sabinepriestley
GIB AND THE TIBBAR
A Novella in the Galactic Defenders Series
By Jessica E. Subject

A dedicated Defender to the core, Gib is willing to go to any planet the Galactic Alliance sends him. That is, until he’s sent with his squad to Hemera for their Alorama ceremony, far from any threat of Erebus invasion and with no chance for promotion.

Vilarra has lived on Hemera all her life, working hard in the kitchens of the royal palace until she achieved lead hand. But learning of the universe beyond her world reveals her insignificance and shreds her sense of accomplishment and purpose.

With the help of a furry, little tibbar, Gib is determined to win the affection of Vilarra, prove to her how significant she is to him and the people who depend on her. But will his personal mission be cut short before he has the chance to win her heart?




About the Author:

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you can not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. 

Website: http://jessicasubject.com
Instagram: @jessicaesubject
PET TRADE
A Novella in the Central Galactic Concordance Series
By Carol Van Natta

The vast Central Galactic Concordance strictly prohibits genetic experimentation and alteration of humans on any of its 500 member planets. Unfortunately, animals are not included in those regulations...

Veterinarian Bethnee Bakonin has made a home for herself on a frontier planet in the frozen north. Her minder talent for healing all kinds of animals would ordinarily assure her success, but her unwilling stint in the shady pet trade industry left her damaged and scared.

"Volunteered" for a black-box research project, elite forces Jumper Axur Tragon now has dangerous experimental tech in his cybernetic limbs. He escapes the project and steals a freighter, but ship damage forces him to crash-land in the northern mountains of a frontier planet. He's surprised to discover the freighter's cargo contains a secret shipment of designer pets. Determined to do right by them, he enlists reluctant Bethnee's aid in caring for them—a definite challenge, considering Bethnee is terrified of him.

They will need all the help they can get from their unusual pets to save the day when ruthless mercenaries pose a threat. Can Axur and Bethnee work together to overcome their limitations, or will they lose everything they have vowed to protect – including each other?



About the Author:

Carol Van Natta is an independent author of science fiction and fantasy, including Overload Flux, Minder Rising, Pico's Crush, and Jumper's Hope, the first four books a space opera series; In Graves Below (Magic, NM), a paranormal romance; and Hooray for Holopticon, a retro science fiction comedy. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with a sometime mad scientist and various cats. Any violations of the laws of physics in her books is the fault of the cats, not the mad scientist.

Website: http://author.carolvannatta.com/
Instagram: @carol.vannatta
MASCOT
A Novella in the Aeon's Legacy Series
By Alexis Glynn Latner

Daya Tattujayan is the manager of a remote and nearly derelict space mining station. She has plenty of problems to deal with even before the interstellar syndicate that owns the station sends an auditor to check up on her work.

Rik Gole is a nomadic interstellar auditor with no roots to tie him down. He is ruthless when he has to be and very good at what he does, but Rik would be the first to admit that a woman like Daya and a place like this station are way outside of his previous experience.

Before Daya and Rik can decide whether they are antagonists, allies, or something more, an unexpected enemy attacks the station. To save their lives, they must dare to trust each other. And they need help from a very unconventional defender—Daya’s mysterious alien pet, the mascot of Star Corner Station.


About the Author:

Alexis Glynn Latner writes science fiction and fantasy romantic adventure. Her science fiction novel Hurricane Moon was published by Pyr in 2007 and again by Avendis Press in 2014 with the sequels Downfall Tide in 2015, Star Crossing in 2016, and Helldive coming in late 2017. Her science fiction, fantasy, horror and mystery stories have appeared in the magazines Analog and Amazing and in various online, print and e-book anthologies. She works at the Fondren Library at Rice University in Houston and teaches creative writing through Rice's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. For real life adventure and the romance of flight, she is a sailplane pilot.

Website: http://www.alexisglynnlatner.com/




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head on over to HERE

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