NoviPet Seeks Out Puppy Model for Upcoming Puppy Supplement (and you can win great prizes, too!)
(Disclosure: I am posting this with no compensation of any kind. I am merely trying to help the company get the word out about the contest.)
WHAT: Pet nutritional supplements company NoviPet (www.novipet.net) is currently seeking a cover model for their upcoming Puppy nutritional supplement! Puppy owners may enter the contest by submitting a picture of their best friend through NoviPet’s Facebook contest application located here: https://www.facebook.com/NoviPetNutrition/app_451684954848385
WHEN: Now through midnight PST on May 13, 2013.
WHY: NoviPet is the leading provider of innovative pet nutritional supplements for cats and dogs. This summer, the company will release an Omega 3 & Colostrum supplement especially designed for puppies, and the company would like to feature one of their Facebook fans’ puppies on the front of the box!
PRIZES: The Grand Prize Pet Parent will win a professional photo shoot for their puppy in their home town so the puppy will look PERFECT on the product box, in addition to a $1,500 cash prize, a 1-year supply of NoviPet canine supplements, a 1-month subscription to DOGTV and a Roku 3 Streaming Player to stream DOGTV to their TV set! Also, 4 runners up will receive:
1. 3-month supply of NoviPet canine supplements
2. 1-month subscription to DOGTV
3. Roku 3 Streaming Player
4. $50 Amazon giftcard
HOW TO WIN: The 5 winners will be selected through NoviPet Facebook fan votes –so get your friends and family to vote for your puppy’s picture!
So go find a puppy (preferably your own), and be sure to get that picture submitted! And then be sure to tell your friends, family, and everyone you can to vote for your puppy's picture. Someone has to win--why should it not be you?
Join Catherine Leggitt, author of the cozy mystery, Payne and Misery, as she tours the blogosphere March 4 – April 26 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!
Christine Sterling has developed a reputation for jumping to wild conclusions. With such an imagination, who is likely to take her seriously when she discovers a bruised and neglected neighbor named Lila Payne? Try as she might, she cannot interest anyone in Lila’s dire need for immediate rescue. Something about crying wolf once too often.
But then Lila and Christine’s beloved dog Molly both disappear the same night.
If no one will help her, she must find Lila and Molly herself. Heedless of possible consequences, Christine dives headfirst into a dark pool swirling with muddy secrets and misery. Her best friend throws her a lifesaver of prayer and soon she begins to sense God at work. But even with God’s help, can Lila and Molly be saved before it’s too late?
Catherine Leggitt is an author and inspirational speaker. A native Californian born in the Bay Area, she raised two daughters, taught school, and cared for her aging parents in southern California before retiring to the north end of the state. Proud grandmother of six brilliant children, Catherine studies the Bible, reads, serves as a leader in Bible Study Fellowship, and sings in the church choir.
Catherine wrote a trilogy called the Christine Sterling Mysteries, which include PAYNE & MISERY, THE DUNN DEAL, and PARRISH THE THOUGHT. The first book won 2nd place at the Orange County Christian Writers Conference in May, 2010. It was published by Ellechor Publishing in 2011. THE DUNN DEAL and PARRISH THE THOUGHT were published in 2012 by Ellechor Publishing. PARRISH THE THOUGHT made the quarterfinals in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.
In addition, Catherine has completed a fourth novel with different characters called DYING TO BE NOTICED and coauthored a memoir for Sam Contino called STREET SMARTS.
When called upon to share her story, Catherine’s main themes come from Christine’s struggles in her books, which also happen to be some of the things Catherine struggles with. Thus, since PAYNE & MISERY addresses complaining, the first message, titled Always Choose Joy, centers on how to be thankful and choose joy instead of misery. The spiritual theme of THE DUNN DEAL exposes with the nature of truth. Merely having faith is not enough. What we believe matters. Catherine named the second talk, Always Choose Truth. In PARRISH THE THOUGHT, Christine learns to love unlovable people, so Catherine calls the third message, Always Choose Love.
Mr. Breeze is back; so is Michael Ryan and Rover, the magical dog.
MR. BREEZE fans can rejoice. REVELATION, Morrie Richfield’s much-anticipated sequel to his novel MR. BREEZE, has arrived. Readers new to the strange but inspiring tale of a super being and his attempt to set mankind on a straight and moral path for its very survival can immerse themselves in what critics and readers alike are calling an “inspirational fantasy” with important lessons for all of us.
In MR. BREEZE, published in 2011, Richfield introduced readers to Zackary, aka Zack, aka Mr. Breeze, an ancient being who claimed to be mankind’s creator and who still exerts a powerful force on the human race and its very existence. Zack appeared on earth as a powerful man who did miraculous deeds. He chose journalist Michael Ryan to tell his story in a book that, he hoped, would show mankind how to stop its self-destructive ways and bring paradise on earth. With man’s fate hanging in the balance, Zack disappeared, leaving humans to their fate and Michael wondering what his role really is.
REVELATION moves the action two years into the future. The situation looks bleak. Mankind has slipped back into its old, destructive ways and Michael has become a dissolute recluse. There are people who view Michael as a savior and others who see him as a threat to be eliminated.
Along this strange trip, Michael meets new friends and reunites with old companions, the most significant of which is Rover, an abused dog whom Zack endowed with superpowers. Rover becomes Zack’s messenger to Michael, as Michael tries to get Zack’s original message out to the world: If mankind doesn’t straighten out, he will destroy the human race.
Richfield plays down the description of REVELATION as an “inspirational fantasy.” He calls it a “self-help book, a textbook, a reality series on paper. It is what we see when we look in the mirror.”
If MR. BREEZE focused on Zack and his message, REVELATION focuses on Michael, following his struggle to understand his role in Zack’s master plan and to find his soul, Richfield says. “Michael’s final revelation is that we just don’t learn. Without the threat of destruction, we go back to our old ways. Our time is almost up and we need to do something. We need to show Mr. Breeze the human race deserves a chance to continue to exist.”
About the Author:
Morrie Richfield lives in Pennsylvania with his two sons, his dogs and his cat. He is working on his next novel, and he still dreams that someday the world will be a better place for all of us to live.
Mr. Breeze is back; so is Michael Ryan and Rover, the magical dog.
MR. BREEZE fans can rejoice. REVELATION, Morrie Richfield’s much-anticipated sequel to his novel MR. BREEZE, has arrived. Readers new to the strange but inspiring tale of a super being and his attempt to set mankind on a straight and moral path for its very survival can immerse themselves in what critics and readers alike are calling an “inspirational fantasy” with important lessons for all of us.
In MR. BREEZE, published in 2011, Richfield introduced readers to Zackary, aka Zack, aka Mr. Breeze, an ancient being who claimed to be mankind’s creator and who still exerts a powerful force on the human race and its very existence. Zack appeared on earth as a powerful man who did miraculous deeds. He chose journalist Michael Ryan to tell his story in a book that, he hoped, would show mankind how to stop its self-destructive ways and bring paradise on earth. With man’s fate hanging in the balance, Zack disappeared, leaving humans to their fate and Michael wondering what his role really is.
REVELATION moves the action two years into the future. The situation looks bleak. Mankind has slipped back into its old, destructive ways and Michael has become a dissolute recluse. There are people who view Michael as a savior and others who see him as a threat to be eliminated.
Along this strange trip, Michael meets new friends and reunites with old companions, the most significant of which is Rover, an abused dog whom Zack endowed with superpowers. Rover becomes Zack’s messenger to Michael, as Michael tries to get Zack’s original message out to the world: If mankind doesn’t straighten out, he will destroy the human race.
Richfield plays down the description of REVELATION as an “inspirational fantasy.” He calls it a “self-help book, a textbook, a reality series on paper. It is what we see when we look in the mirror.”
If MR. BREEZE focused on Zack and his message, REVELATION focuses on Michael, following his struggle to understand his role in Zack’s master plan and to find his soul, Richfield says. “Michael’s final revelation is that we just don’t learn. Without the threat of destruction, we go back to our old ways. Our time is almost up and we need to do something. We need to show Mr. Breeze the human race deserves a chance to continue to exist.”
Yes, it is me, Michael Ryan. I’m sure you remember me. After all, for a short time, I was about the most famous man in the world. For those of you who have forgotten, let me fill you in on what has happened in the two years since I last saw Zackary Breeze and Rover.
Of course you must remember Zack Breeze and Rover. Zack as he called himself is this time is our maker. He cured our diseases told us our religions are nothing but of our own making and turned a normal German Sheppard dog whose name is Rover into the second most powerful being on the planet. Let’s not forget that he used me to write his story and threatened our immediate destruction should I refuse.
I wrote the book that Zack asked me to write. It sold more copies than any book in history, and you all read it. I was oh so pleased with myself. I was rich, famous, and revered. You could not open a newspaper or magazine without seeing my name in it somewhere. It was my fifteen minutes of fame, so to speak.
For a time, there seemed to be hope in the world. The wars and fighting stopped—it was as if no one knew if the next shot fired would be the one that would bring the human race to an end. People seemed to like that I was somehow partly responsible for all of these remarkable things that had happened. I was admired by many, but what I did not know at the time was that I was hated by an equal number.
It seemed that once people heard Zack’s words, most of them stopped going to churches, synagogues, mosques, or any public place of worship. They prayed on their front yards and in alleys and at any time they felt the need. Only now, they prayed to Zack, and a somewhat zealous few even prayed to me.
For those fanatics, you see, I was the messenger of God. Through me, they thought they could find salvation, and, boy, did they try. They camped out on my street, in my yard, and even in my neighbors’ yards. They also built structures to honor me out of stuff from my trash and the trash of everyone else on the street. As you can probably imagine, my neighbors were not pleased, and neither was I. I was like a movie star; I couldn’t go out in public without paparazzi on my tail and people asking me to touch them. My fifteen minutes of fame had turned into twenty-four hours a day of hell.
Then the reaction from the religious community came. They finally realized that without worshippers and money, they would not survive. For them, Zack meant the end of their existence, and I became their target for retaliation.
“The devil comes to us in many forms” became their rallying cry, and as for me, I became the devil’s minion. I guess I couldn’t blame them for trying to bring their followers back, but I was astounded by how many people believed them. They quickly forgot what they had seen and what Zack had done. They even managed to convince the majority of the world that Zack cured all of their diseases just so he could fool them into thinking he was our maker.
Let’s also not forget how the pharmaceutical companies chimed in. After all, no more diseases meant no one needed medication, so no more business. They jumped right on that bandwagon and within a few months had almost everyone believing their miraculous cures were temporary. So back on the drugs they went, and back came the profits.
I suppose I should have expected there would be some reaction; after all, I always believed religion was nothing more than a very profitable business whose main currency was either hope or fear. If they could not get your money by making you believe in one, they would threaten you with the other. Just like any other business, they needed their customers to survive.
Suddenly, my home, my yard, and my street became the focal point for the battle between those who thought Zack was our savior and those who thought he was the devil. It was not a pretty sight. At first, there were just signs and lots of chanting, but then came the physical confrontations followed by the police in riot gear. I was a prisoner in my own house—that is, until someone decided to throw a Molotov cocktail through one of my windows and burn my house down.
Pump Up Your Book and Morrie Richfield are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card/Paypal Cash! (I will be clarifying where this is open.)
I found this little tidbit amazing today. On this date in 1961, Soviet dog Chernushka (Blackie) was safely returned from space where he bravely orbited the earth with cosmonaut dummy Ivan Ivanovich, mice, and a guinea pig. Sputnick-9 was the name of his space capsule, and he was one of many dogs that were launched into space before humans followed their lead.
We only have one dog in our family, but we only want the best for her. We have only had her three weeks, but she has already become an integral part of our family. It is very important for her to have her own place to rest and sleep so that she does not climb up on our furniture and ruin it. Thankfully, we can check into getting a memory foam dog bed for comfort. If you sleep on a memory foam pillow, you know they are only the finest in quality. Imagine how well your four-footed friend will sleep on her very own memory foam bed!
Wondering why I've been so quiet on my blog this weekend? We have a new dog named Piper. And she and my daughter have bonded greatly. She doesn't get along with our fourteen cats as of yet, but she's only been in our household a little over a day. What can you expect? She is settling in, and I think I can get back to regular posting tomorrow.
Guest
Post – A Change of Direction (by the author)
Since heading down the self-publishing
path, my only interest has been in writing fantasy novels. I’m currently hard
at work on the third instalment of my Elencheran Chronicles series but in 2012
I discovered that there was another path I was able to walk – the way of
non-fiction.
I enjoy reading both fiction and
non-fiction. My appetite stretches to encompass many genres but when it comes
to non-fiction I usually enjoy a good history book or a compelling biography.
I’ve always thought of writing history books but I’ve never been sure what
period to write about. So, how did I end up wandering into non-fiction? Two reasons.
I like to try and make people laugh and I have six cats. Bear with me while I
explain.
Now, I would never profess to be a comedian
or a hilarious person for that matter, but usually when I meet someone I can
find a way to make them laugh or at the very least smile. I can be serious when
I want to be but when I interact with people I do enjoy seeing them smile.
Those that know my wife, Donna, and I well in person and online have heard many
a tale about our cats, usually involving a joke or two at my expense.
I had never owned cats before so this is
still very much a new experience for me. It’s been hard work seeing the
household increase from two cats at the start to three, then four and a final
leap to six. Serenity is seldom found in our home but the cats do bring with
them a lot of inspiration. I devoted two blog features to them which I started
in 2010, one observing their daily behaviour, while the other was a
fictionalised set of meetings where the cats discussed current affairs.
By the time Donna and I merged our blogs to
form Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dave I wasn’t sure what to do with my cat posts.
The two of us then hit on the idea of a book, collecting the anecdotes in our
blog posts and adding some new material into the mix. The final result was Man
vs Cat.
From the start, I meant for this book to be
an amusing series of memoirs. I couldn’t write something poignant like a Marley
& Me type book so I turned to humour to convey my message about our six
boys – Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo. My biggest worry, which
Donna shared, was that no one but us would find this book amusing. These are,
after all, our cats. They have no claim to fame from being in movies or on
television, so we did wonder what the response would be.
Thankfully, the feedback has been positive
so far. Everyone seems to love our cats and how the cats adore Donna (Frizzy
Hair in the book). What disappoints me is that I have garnered no sympathy as
the downtrodden cat owner (Beard Face in the book). I was hoping everyone would
side with me and not the cats. Maybe I can redress the balance with the next
cat book because at the moment it’s very
much Man 0 Cat 1.
Synopsis
History
has known many famous cats - Garfield, Mr Bigglesworth, Simon's Cat, the
Aristocats, the Cheshire cat and the Keyboard Cat on YouTube.
In recent years these feline things have
replaced man's best friend as the most popular pet in the U.S. while the
Ancient Egyptians once worshipped them as gods. This was a mistake and I'm here
to tell you why.
Man vs Cat is the story of one man, one woman
and the six cats that changed their lives forever. To the woman they brought
love and affection, to the man they brought sleepless nights, fear, paranoia
and even ruined his jigsaw. Need I say more?
David Brown could be considered
a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a
47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his
obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and
editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the
critical eye of his wife and a BA Hons in History and English, David's
dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories
and characters.
CUPID’S CHRISTMAS…A love story for both the young and the young at heart. In a spot somewhere between Heaven and Earth, Cupid is trying to overcome the forces of lust, jealousy and the events brought on by his nemeses — Life Management.
Cupid matched John and Eleanor thirty years ago, but Life Management stepped in and fouled things up. Now they are both single and back together again, but before Cupid can give them the happiness they deserve, he’s got to come up with some magic, a few miracles and a dog for John’s daughter. Cupid's Christmas by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so glad I got the chance to read this sweet, clean romance that is perfect for Christmas but honestly perfect for any time of the year. I loved everything about the book. The story was sweet, and it even had a few twists and turns that I did not see coming. The romance was wonderful and not sappy. I loved the fact that Cupid told much of the story, and he is an angel. I liked the references to God, and I enjoyed the humor. And who couldn't love the dog? That is an integral part of the story, and you must read it to understand.
When I say the book is clean, I actually mean it. There might be one or two words that could be classified as mild profanity, but I was honestly not offended. There were no sex scenes--go figure! While the book is not Christian, you will find moral principles and Christian references. I also love the writing style she chooses--telling the story from several different perspectives. She does this expertly--some authors are not at good in this area. The only thing that would make the book better is a sequel. If you are looking for a feel-good, easy-to-read, light romance, this will definitely fit the bill!
I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Award-winning author, originally from New Jersey now living in Southern Florida. An active public speaker who makes frequent appearances to support various charities and women's groups. Schedule permitting she will join the dicussion of book clubs who have read "Cracks in the Sidewalk" or "Spare Change", either in-person, by phone or by computer teleconference.
A Dog Lovers lasting guide.......An beautifully illustrated interactive book that one fills in all of the information about their
dogs life in the event they can no longer care for them to help ensure your pets are taken care of.
A thought provoking check list for dog lovers, who unfortunately and with much sadness can no longer take care of their dog.
This book will assist those who want to prepare for their dogs future in an easy to use format that will guide them through the process of telling the "story" of their dogs life, for their pets "Next Guardian".
None of us can predict the future, but in the event situations arise such as death, health impairment or left with no other choice but to give them up, this book will be there to assist your beloved pet with the transition from one home to another.
Joe and Cathy Connolly have spent a lifetime owning, training and caring for dogs. Cathy grew up with a Collie breeder, dog groomer and dog handler while attending many different dog shows and eventually went on to work with other breeders as she grew older. They live in beautiful Northern Michigan with their 3 furry four legged children, one large dog, one small dog and the entire family is supervised by one bossy calico cat.
When I first heard about this book, I was initially intrigued. I love the fact that the book addresses something we don't often think about. We make provisions for our children, but in many cases, dogs have become as much a part of the family as our kids (and they may even take the place of children we never had). How do you go about making sure your animals are provided for if you happen to meet an unexpected, sudden death? You certainly don't want them wandering around without any care, and I bet you don't want them to go to a shelter and potentially be put down. These are things you must think about, but where do you begin? This is a practical book with a lot of help for owners to see that their dogs are cared for. They even talk about providing care for your animals in the even that you are physically or mentally unable to care for them. It's not always about death. The possibilities are endless.
I am a dog lover, and although we have but one dog, we have 15 cats and four goats. It makes me think that the principles of this book will spill over into preparing to have your other animals taken care of in the event of your untimely demise. This book definitely fills a niche that I have not seen elsewhere, and hopefully it will resonate with readers.
Want to buy your own book for the holidays? The authors created a discount for the book running throughout the tour thatyou can use. The Code is SET8RBCG @ www.createspace.com/3839212 and will give $4.00 off the list price for the holidays
amazon.co.uk amazon.com
NOW FOR OUR SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY !! 5 LUCKY WINNERS!! This special giveaway is brought to you by author's Joe and Cathy Connolly and Beck Valley Books 5 Lucky Winners will each receive a Signed Book from the authors.
There are hundreds of daily deal sites worldwide that offer great discounts on clothes, home furnishings, beauty products, toys, and electronic gadgets. Whatever you need, you can most probably get from these sites at less than half of its retail price. LeLePets.com is one such deal site but what sets it apart from all the rest is that it offers deals solely for pet products.
Pet lovers will definitely be delighted with this daily deal site that is dedicated exclusively to our most-loved pets. Now you can get your fave pets high-quality brilliantly designed pet products at very affordable prices. LeLePets members get full access to daily deals that can get them up to 70% off designed inspired pet products. LeLePets.com is exclusive for members only. However, membership IS FREE and you can get exclusive access to the site by requesting membership with a valid email address.
If your schedule is too busy and you just can’t find time to check the site daily, fret not ‘cause LeLePets will send you a daily or weekly newsletter via email to keep you updated with the current and upcoming fab deals. That way, you’ll never miss that deal you’ve been long waiting for.
I’m certain you’re excited to go shopping for cute and adorable accessories for your lovable pets. Well, how would you like to get some free credits to use on your shopping spree? Join my giveaway by telling me what your favorite item is on LeLePets. There are always new deals daily so your choice may change every day as well. Join below for more chances of winning.
I have a dog who would love this, and I bet you either have a dog or know someone who does. What a perfect gift, and a perfect way to begin the new year!
GIVEAWAY!!
PRIZES at STAKE:
Grand Prize: Fatboy Pet bed + $50 Lelepets GC
Consolation Prize : $50 GC (2 winners)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I have the pleasure to review some really great products from FouFou Dog. They just launched a new breed specific collection called “Love Your Breed” for pet lovers. This full line of breed specific products will feature your favorite characters; including Luggage Tags, Plush Toys, Acrylic Key Chains, Key Covers and Pens. Already creating a buzz in both the pet and gift industries, this collection is a must-have for all pet owners, pet lovers, and other pet friendly people.
This is Christmastime, and if you have a pet lover on your shopping list, this is a perfect place to shop. Here's a link to their current catalog. Choose the breed of choice, and you can find the most perfect items for them!
This is our dog, Sandy. She is protecting her food from our fifteen cats, but that is another story. Here are the items the company sent me to review.
As you can see, we got a journal, key covers, keychain, bookmark, and luggage tag. Each item is absolutely darling, and if my daughter gets a hold of these, they will never be seen again. While these are simple items, they are also something just a little bit different. I can't think of a dog lover who wouldn't love these!
So be sure to check out Love Your Breed and FouFou Dog, and be sure to follow them on facebook!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Barbara's vivid and dramatic stories, told with a wicked sense of humor, will make you laugh out loud. She definitely gets what living with rescued dogs (nine of them!) is all about.
When Barbara meets her future husband, Ray, it is love-and dog-at first sight. Over the course of thirty-two years, seventeen relocations and nine dogs, their mutual love of dogs guides them on their unconventional path. The love that Barbara and Ray get in return is literally lifesaving, with one dog attacking a lethal intruder and another discovering Barbara’s cancer. Her own survival story underscores the story of how her dogs become survivors themselves.
Each new dog adds its own dynamic to the family, sometimes upending it. From Turbo (whose Spock-like ears may have provided super powers), Barbara learns about the will to live; Lexington demonstrates incredible patience and an inexplicable love of golf; Madison teaches that laughter is truly the best medicine and that the whole “nine lives thing” is not reserved just for cats; Morgan should be sainted for tolerating Izzy, who is as cute as she is bad.
Barbara is certain that somewhere in doggie heaven there is a poster that says “If you are sick, injured or in need of really expensive medical care, FIND THESE HUMANS!”
Barbara grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with her parents, sister and always a dog, or two or three. She founded three successful businesses in the Pacific Northwest and is a prolific fundraiser for breast cancer research. She and her husband currently live in Southwest Florida with two dogs and copious amounts of dog fur.
What To Do When Facing Writers Block? (Guest Post by the Author)
Writers block... it’s a tough issue. We’ve all had it. It is
tough to shake. I am actually having it right now, as I type. Going to go get a
Starbucks and give my brain a rest....
Whew, that worked. OK, writers block... oh no... I’ve got it
again. I know you feel my pain.
For me, stomping on writers block is challenging. If I take
a walk to clear my head I may not get back to my daily writing. I need outside
stimulation and I usually find that in my dogs. Since I write about dogs all
day, every day, sometimes just watching them gives me the material I need to
jump start a new blog post or book chapter. Izzy provides endless hours of
entertainment that always find a way into my blog,
When that doesn’t work, I go to my husband who always has a
way of inserting a new thought into my brain that gets me on the path to
writing. Today was no different. I was stuck. Trying to write numerous guest
blog posts for my Virtual Book Tour. I am out of material and am getting fairly
bored, writing about myself, my process and my quirks. It is amazing how he is
always able to talk me through the tough times. As we talked about the things
he thinks I do to break writers block, he said “make a batch of chocolate chip cookies”
that will help. Now as I think about it, he is right, but also a bit self-serving since I do not eat cookies. HE does...
So instead of writing more about me, I thought I would give
you my secret recipe for amazing Chocolate Chip cookies.
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 cup Whole Wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. Eatwell Farms Lavender salt
1 tsp organic lavender buds
1 cup softened butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed DARK brown sugar
2 large eggs
the seeds scraped from 1 vanilla whole bean – discard the
bean or use it to make something else – I like to buy mine from Penseys.
2 cups coarsely chopped baking chocolate (I prefer
Ghirardelli but that is because I worked in a shop above the factory many, many
years ago in San Francisco and got hooked)
In a fun Christmas Romance, Cupid is charged with making certain an older couple gets the love they've been waiting for and a young woman who’s far too attracted to handsome men with sexy eyes finds her perfect match. And, he has to make it happen by Christmas.
In a spot somewhere between Heaven and Earth, Cupid tries to maneuver around the complications that threaten to wreck this romance as he struggles to overcome the forces of lust, jealousy and the events brought on by his nemeses—Life Management. He matched John and Eleanor some thirty years ago, but Life Management stepped in and fouled things up. Now they’re both single and back together again. But before Cupid can give them the happiness they deserve, he’s got to come up with some magic, a few miracles and a dog for John’s daughter.
If you’re a Debbie Macomber fan, you’re gonna love Cupid’s Christmas!
A wonderful feel-good story that I for one am better for having read it. I definitely recommend this book very highly…Goodreads review
CUPID’S
CHRISTMAS
by Bette Lee
Crosby
(Excerpt)
Cupid
The problem with humans is they’re in love
with love. Even worse, they’re determined to find it themselves. They stumble
in and out of relationships that simply were never meant to be and then wonder
why it didn’t work. Females are infinitely more complicated than males. Lindsay
Gray for example, she’s dead-set on doing this her way and four times she’s
ended up with the wrong male. She’s the kind of female who makes my job a
nightmare.
Contrary to popular belief, love isn’t a
result of me shooting an arrow into some human’s heart—that whole bit is a lot
of hooey. I get my orders from Upstairs. The Boss gives me a rundown of matches
then it’s my job to make sure the male and female get together. When things go
wrong I’ve got to come up with a Plan B. Unfortunately Lindsay Gray has already
used up B through E, I’m now working on Plan F and she’s dangerously close to
being reclassified as Love-Challenged.
Her problem is she can’t tell love from
lust. She sees a pair of heavy-lidded dark eyes, or a rippling muscle and
thinks she’s in love. This started when she was only ten years old and caught
sight of the boy who lived two doors down. The lad was twelve and wanted
nothing to do with her, but that didn’t stop Lindsay from developing a
preadolescent case of lovesickness. She followed that poor boy around like a
faithful puppy until she saw him kissing Sara McLachlan. Once that happened she
swore she’d never love again and she didn’t, until she was eleven.
Lindsay’s mistaken love more times than I
can count, and every time it ended in a disaster. She can’t understand why this
keeps happening to her, but the answer is obvious—humans with do-it-yourself
determination are not equipped to identify true love. They inevitably mistake
passion for love. Elizabeth Taylor is a perfect example. She refused to let me
handle things, so eight times she got married and seven times she got divorced.
One poor chap was killed in a plane crash before she had a chance to divorce
him—that was not my doing, that unfortunate
event came from Life Management. Not one of those gents was included in
Elizabeth’s plan which goes to prove what I’ve been saying.
But I’m digressing, so let me get back to
the subject at hand.
One of the advantages of this job is my
ability to see the future and I can tell you Lindsay’s got a lot of problems
ahead of her. Problems far worse than her bad boyfriend choices. Most of those
problems are coming from the guy over in Life Management. Me, I’m a lovable
fellow. But Life Management—well suffice it to say he handles things like car
crashes, bankruptcies and heart attacks.
.
Right now my primary assignment isn’t
Lindsay—it’s her father and Eleanor Barrow. But if I don’t step in and take
control of Lindsay’s life, she’ll ruin theirs. Eleanor and John deserve better,
they’ve been waiting a long time.
This isn’t the first time for Eleanor and
John Gray, they were a perfect match back in high school. If Eleanor had gone
to Penn State instead of Kentucky, she and John would have had four daughters
and a lifetime of happiness. I set up that first match, but once she left the
North East, she was out of my region. Raymond, the fellow she married was from
Seattle—North West region—and they met at the University of Kentucky—Central
region. You probably know where this is going, right? She was out of my region,
Raymond was out of his and my counterpart in Kentucky was busy fending off the
nineteen girls who thought they were in love with the same basketball player,
so Eleanor and Raymond got married and became what we call an MM. (Migratory
Mistake)
Despite the fact that I’d let her down,
Eleanor made the best of it. If you were standing on the outside looking in,
you’d actually think she was happy. Of course I knew the truth because I go to
the inside of a person’s heart—I have to, it’s my job. Eleanor was a good wife
and a good mother—a bit overindulgent with Ray Junior maybe, but still a good
mother. Papa Raymond was another story. It was bad enough that he had an eye
for the ladies, but he also had a great fondness for beer and the business
sense of a turnip. An insurance salesman who sold life insurance to everybody
but himself, how crazy is that?
When Life Management stepped in and did
their dirty work, Raymond got an illness nobody wants and it was two years
before they finally gave the okay for him to die. Eleanor took care of him that
whole time and once he was gone, she worked two jobs so Ray Junior could go on
to college.
Eleanor’s a woman with a big heart, lots
of grit and steadfast determination, which is fortunate because when it comes
to dealing with Lindsay Gray, she’s gonna need all of it. If Eleanor’s got a
flaw it’s that she’s blind to the faults of those she loves, which is why Ray
Junior is such a problem.
Author Bio
Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.
Born in Detroit and raised in a plethora of states scattered across the South and Northeast, Crosby originally studied art and began her career as a packaging designer. When asked to write a few lines of copy for the back of a pantyhose package, she discovered a love for words that was irrepressible. After years of writing for business, she turned to works of fiction and never looked back. “Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”
Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since that, she has gone on to win several more awards, including another NLAPW award, three Royal Palm Literary Awards, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal and most recently the 2011 Reviewer’s Choice Award and Reader’s View Southeast Fiction Literary Award.
Her published works to date are: Cracks in the Sidewalk (2009), Spare Change (2011), The Twelfth Child (2012), and Life in the Land of IS (2012). Life in the Land of IS is a memoir written for Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as the world’s longest living quadriplegic.
Crosby newest novel Cupid’s Christmas is scheduled for release in early October and following that, What Matters Most will be released in early 2013.
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