Tag Archives: pets

New Releases

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Years ago, when she was a college student, my daughter and a friend were having lunch at the fast-food place, Wendy, on a rainy spring day. When they left, heading to their car, they noticed the tiny orange kitten following them. They brought it back to the door of the restaurant and returned to the car. Despite the rain, the kitty rushed after them and meowed. Once more they took it back and asked the manager about its owner. They learned that the mamma cat had a litter a few days ago and abandoned it in the morning. The kittens had been adopted by patrons except for this last one.

My good-hearted daughter couldn’t leave the kitty that looked at her with beautiful golden eyes. She took her to her dorm room, only to realize that her new kitten was about to trigger an asthma attack for her. The next day, our daughter drove four hours from Cleveland to Cincinnati, and paid us an unexpected visit, claiming she had a lovely gift for us, a third kid. With her asthma condition, she couldn’t keep Wendy. We adopted the adorable kitten that grew up to be our spoiled baby.  

Wendy would go out in the morning when we left for work, and waited for us in front of the garage door in the evening. She cleaned the neighborhood of mice, chipmunks, and birds. She was so sweet and extremely well-behaved, and would never climb on chairs or tables. Every kid in the area knew Wendy and played with her.

Wendy’s story inspired the beginning of my newly released book, His Son, Her Daughter.    

JUST RELEASED, available in Kindle Unlimited

His Son, Her Daughter: High school sweethearts reunited after twenty years by their young children. Their conflicting baggage prevents them from fully trusting each other. Yet what wouldn’t Daniel do for his son and her daughter? http://bookShow.me/B08HKPNRWH

His Son, Her Daughter:

Remember The Parent Trap is a 1961 Walt Disney Technicolor romantic comedy film directed by David Swift. It stars Hayley Mills (in a dual role), Maureen O’Hara and Brian Keith is a story about teenage twins on a quest to reunite their divorced parents.

And The Parent Trap 1998. In this update of a 1961 film, twins Annie and Hallie (Lindsay Lohan) are strangers until happenstance unites them. The preteen girls’ divorced parents, Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson), are living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, each with one child. After meeting at camp, American Hallie and British-raised Annie engineer an identity swap, giving both the chance to spend time with the parent they’ve missed. If the scheme works, it might just make the family whole again.

On PreOrder, coming on October 10th.

Sunshine Over Snow: When his children manage to ruin his second wedding, Brad is caught between a furious fiancée and an offended ex-wife, both determined to keep him and make him pay for his mistakes. https://www.amazon.com/DP/B08HHNSSSK

Sunshine Over Snow:

Coming soon on October 6:

INVINCIBLE DIVERSITY: Eight unique and unusual love stories that tackle the tough issues we face everyday – racial acceptance, differing religious views, sexuality, family and social values, and so much more.But whatever struggle they face, whether it’s alone or with their friends and family, they stay strong and push through showing how invincible they are.

Before and After Coronavirus:

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Before: Go hug grandma.

After: Careful, stay away from grandma.

Before: Mom, you should go out more often. It’s good for your health.

After: Mom, please stay home. Don’t go out, you may catch it.

Before: No you can’t stay home, just because you don’t like the teacher.

After: No you can’t go to school, just because you want to see your friends.

Before: We are giving a dinner party. Make sure the table looks beautiful.

After: We are having a party. Make sure your Internet is working.

Before: Going out? Wear a nice outfit.

After: Going out? Wear a good mask.

Before: Three centuries ago, women wore fancy lace masks to conceal their identities when meeting a lover. How romantic! A year ago, bank robbers hid their faces behind stockings. Now they find it easier to wear a surgical mask. And banks face a unique Coronavirus problem.

After: Wearing a mask has become part of our daily life.

My masks for various errands.

Add your own Before and After.

The Senator’s Family Book 1, 2, 3 ,and 4 are already published. Books 5, 6, 7 coming soon.

Honeymoon Cruise: The Senator’s Family- Book 1 The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the fabulous Christmas wedding is off. But the would-be honeymoon cruise may fulfill the dreams of Julia and her unexpected companion.

Fake Fiancée: The Senator’s Family- Book 2 Her German shepherd is her only friend until a senator’s son refuses to take advantage of their fake engagement and teams up with her dog to protect her.

For Sarah’s Sake: The Senator’s Family- Book 3 A broken marriage. Second chance at love. And a precious little girl trying to escape danger and hatred to get herself a loving family.

Not Ready Yet: The Senator’s Family- Book 4 High school sweethearts separated by life…They meet years later, successful but different, each with a heavy baggage.

Sunshine Over Snow: The Senator’s Family- Book 5 When his children manage to ruin his second wedding, Brad is caught between a furious fiancée and an offended ex-wife, both determined to keep him and make him pay for his mistakes.

His Son, Her Daughter:The Senator’s Family- Book 6 High school sweethearts reunited after twenty years by their small children. Their conflicting baggage prevents them from fully trusting each other. Yet what wouldn’t Daniel do for his son and her daughter?

Between Babies and Girlfriends: The Senator’s Family- Book 7 Abandoned baby twins, a former girlfriend, an almost fiancée complicate Dr. Brian Dutton’s life to no end.

Pets are Priceless Pains in the Butt

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Whether it’s an old one-eyed cat you started feeding as a stray or a custom-bred ‘designer dog’ you paid thousands of dollars for, all pets are priceless. Or should be considered as such. They’re a limited time joy, their unconditional love unmatched by emotional two-legged humans.

Granddaughter Ruby and her Pomeranian guardians

If a box isn’t available, the sink will do!

A dog’s wagging tail (or a stub of one) when you enter the room and cat’s snooty aloofness when you find him in your favorite chair, daring you to remove him, (his way of saying, ‘Pick me up and hold me, too!) go beyond words.
Yes, it costs to be a responsible pet owner, but here are a few priceless—or at least low cost—hints on how to keep your home cleaner and maybe more enjoyable for you and your pet.
Sheets and shedding. Almost all cats and most dogs shed, and seem to enjoy lazing on beds. I found that laying out a simple yet colorful sheet on top of my bedspread is a great ‘hair and dander’ catcher. I wash it once a week, rotating it with another colorful sheet so the bed is never bare. After all, it’s much easier to wash a sheet than a fluffy comforter! Make sure you dry your sheets in a dryer with a dryer sheet and a clean lint trap. You’ll be surprised, and a bit grossed out, on how much shed fur it traps!
Keep a towel near the door during rainy and snowy seasons to wipe down the dog when he comes in after his outdoor duties. If you make it a loving experience, they’ll not fight or try and get away. This saves lots of frazzled nerves from keeping wet pets off clean floors and/or furniture.
Cleaning cat boxes is a necessary chore, but doesn’t have to be labor intensive. I bought an amazing cat box, manufactured in Canada. Omega Paws is a ‘roll me over’ enclosed box that traps the cat litter clumps in a drawer. After inverting the box, simply pull out the trap drawer on the side and dispose of the waste in the trash. I bought mine on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2mI3Tej). Just make sure you use clumping cat litter. No matter what type of cat box, though, a nappy rug under and in front of it catches loose litter from kitty paws. Shake regularly to limit litter spread to the rest of the house.
If you live in an area of the country where fleas and ticks are present, make sure you use a once-a-month deterrent such as Revolution. Oregon is famous for the prevalence of fleas, yet I’ve never seen one nor had to deal with ear mites. I stay on top of the regimen because prevention is so much easier than eradication. Call your vet about what he suggests (department store brands have been known to kill dogs!) and ask if he gives quantity discounts. Mine buys the product in bulk and offers a deep discount if I bring in my small dogs for their monthly dabs on the back of the neck. Buy four packages get one free is also an option with some vets.
Do you love men who love critters? Read about Jay, the young mechanic who has a way with feral cats, and a young woman’s heart, in Kit Kringle: An Alaskan Tale. Part of Unforgettable Christmas (only 99 cents for the whole box set).

Kit Kringle: An Alaskan Tale, part of Unforgettable Christmas