Sunday, November 1, 2020

MONTHLY WRAP UP - October

 I feel a bit heavy with frustration due to the fact that this month of October I read half of my usual volume. I realize that what I read - 33 books - is more than some read in a year, for this amount, well it is my lowest in about three years. I had two heavy periods of bipolar depression during the month, so my interest in reading waned quite a bit. 

Meanwhile, I decided to work on my other hobbies as time permitted - adult coloring and diamond painting, I did not do much coloring as I would have liked, but did complete two pictures, which I will share below. I did a lot with diamond painting and am quite excited about that. 

For now, let's look at what I did read this past month.

Monthly # pages: 10,695
Books read this month: 33
Running total # pages: 201,474
Running total # books read: 579



The ratings are as follows:


Fatal Deception 10/31 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Forgotten 10/30 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE PERFECT LIAR 10/29 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Delayed Justice 10/28 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
His Disinclined Bride 10/27 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Girl Without a Name: Beautiful and heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction 10/25 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Girl Who Never Came Home 10/23 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The One Before 10/21 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My Only Child 10/20 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stalker 10/20 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
His Pretend Amish Bride 10/19 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Light Shines on Promise Lodge 10/18 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big Bad Cowboy 10/18 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cowboy Come Home 10/17 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This Fragile Heart 10/16 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Heart Goes On 10/15 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Her Rebel Heart 10/15 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where Butterflies Go 10/14 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Crazy Stupid Bromance 10/12 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Murder on the Dance Floor: A completely gripping historical cozy mystery 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Light at Wyndcliff 10/9 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Saving Grace: A Psychological Thriller 10/8 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Girl She Wanted 10/7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rescue You 10/6 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Mirror Man 10/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Christmas at Fireside Cabins 10/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Under a Sky on Fire: A gripping and utterly heartbreaking WW2 historical novel 10/4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hot Six 10/4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Survivors 10/3 ⭐️⭐️
Undercover Bromance 10/3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Bromance Book Club 10/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Husband's Daughter 10/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If Every Day Was Christmas 10/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(all of the links above, as well as the book covers, link directly to Goodreads)


So, it was mostly a very good reading month, with the exception of  The Survivors by Jane Harper, which I gave two stars. My favorite reads were The Mirror Man by Jane Gilmarten, the historical fiction books, The Light Shines on Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard, and The Girl Without a Name by Suzanne Kelman.

As mentioned, I began adult coloring (after a long hiatus of about two years). and these are what I colored.,

  

I also completed two jigsaw puzzles:

  


I also dug out something I bought a year ago, and it was a diamond painting. Once I started, I realized how much I loved it and completed these three this month:




I have a couple in progress now:

  


Lastly, I began live streaming and offering more content on my YouTube channel, Robin Loves Reading and All the Things - and please subscribe, lol.

So, although I did not read as much as I would have liked, I certainly was incredibly busy all month long.

Another nice treat is that I became a grandmother for the tenth time to Olivia Faye. Olivia, big brother (20 month-old Demitrius) and Mom live with us temporarily so a lot of time has also gone towards being Nana.

So, that is it. I am still working on my November TBR, and do hope to get more read this coming month. But, if not, I will definitely be reading my blog tour titles that have been previously scheduled.

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BLOG TOUR - Ruthless Girl

DESCRIPTION:

Fans of Kimberley Chambers’ Queenie and Martina Cole will love this unputdownable crime thriller from bestselling crime author Emma Tallon.

Sometimes revenge is the only option.

Anna Davies is young, smart and successful, plus she’s the head of one of London’s biggest crime networks. She’s seen off her abusive ex-boyfriend and cut her teeth managing clubs around London’s West End. But nothing could have prepared her for what’s around the corner…

Beautiful, rich and powerful, Sophia Ivanov has been sniffing around Anna’s business empire and she’s got only one thing on her mind – revenge. She’s convinced Anna and her gangster boyfriend, Freddie Tyler, killed her Russian crime boss husband, Alexis, and she’s determined to make them pay.

When Sophia turns up at their club one night, it’s clear she’s not there for a friendly visit and tensions begin to flare. Anna knows Sophia is a danger to their business, but she doesn’t realise how much until Freddie finds himself in unthinkable danger. Can Anna and Freddie get rid of Sophia once and for all… and what will be left when the fighting stops?

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Ruthless Girl
Author:  Emma Tallon
Series:  Anna Davis #7
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers 
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   369
Date of Publication:  October 29, 2020
My Rating:  5 Stars

Freddie Tyler and girlfriend Anna Davies have finally found equal footing again. However, revenge vs. loyalty is now at war and could truly upset the bonds of love they share for one another. Through the course of this thrilling series by Emma Tallon readers have seen Anna grow into a powerful woman, the perfect complement to equally powerful mob boss Freddie. Anna has developed her own network over the course of her time with Freddie, but right now everything she has accomplished could come toppling down.

It is quite common in the underworld life Freddie and Anna lead to have enemies face them along the way. However, their current enemies are perfect examples of wolves in sheep's clothing. So, not only does loyalty come into play, learning who to trust is truly pivotal in what is happening with Freddie and Anna now. Furthermore, Tanya, Anna's best friend and business partner, has more than her share of trials as well.

In this story, when the wife of a former enemy offers a business opportunity towards them, little do Freddie and Anna realize that revenge is the main ingredient of what she is offering. The woman, Sophia Ivanov, not only affects the lives of Freddie and Anna, but also Tanya and one of Anna's employees, Josephine. All of them are involved in a plot that hardly sees the light of day, which has far-reaching effects.

What a story! With excellent pacing and flawless character development, watching things unfold in the pages of this book certainly was not easy. We the reader clearly see the danger. The question that begs an answer is whether or not Freddie and Anna see the danger before it is too late. 

I have read and loved every single book in this series. Emma Tallon has a gift of creating compelling characters and complex plots, ones that are always filled with twists that nearly break my heart, leaving me gasping for air - whether due to frustration or relief! Reading this book was much like solving a jigsaw puzzle - all the pieces were there. Would they all fall into place or could there indeed be a piece missing, thus everything that Freddie and Anna having had fought for fall apart completely?

I love this world of danger that has grown over the course of each book. Although the drama in this Ruthless Girl could serve well as a standalone, what Freddie, Anna and their family and friends have experienced has been developed over the course of the entire series, thus I would highly recommend reading this from the first book in the series, Runaway Girl, which is available on Kindle Unlimited.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emma Tallon is a British author of gripping, gritty, organised crime thrillers and mother of two. Having started her writing career as a freelance ghostwriter, Emma finished her first novel, Runaway Girl, in 2016, and became an author full time. Since then she has written several other novels for her publisher and has carved out a successful career for herself from her home in Milton Keynes, where she can usually be found typing away in her office surrounded by large stacks of books and Post-it Notes full of ideas for future stories.

Author Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/emmatallonofficial
https://twitter.com/EmmaEsj
www.emmatallon.com

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Saturday, October 31, 2020

BLOG TOUR - His Disinclined Bride

HIS DISINCLINED BRIDE by Jennie Goutet is out now! Be sure to order your copy of this sweet Regency romance today!


Title: His Disinclined Bride

Author: Jennie Goutet

Genre: Regency Romance


About His Disinclined Bride:


Theirs is not a love match. She’ll make sure of it.   

Kitty Stokes never imagined she’d be so weak as to sacrifice herself on the altar of family obligations, but when the only alternative to marriage with Lord Hayworth is to play nursemaid to her brother’s children, Kitty reluctantly agrees. On her wedding day, she’s certain she has made a grave error, but it’s too late to back out.   

Phineas Hayworth refrained from setting eyes on his new bride before their wedding day—the price he forced himself to pay for being so mercenary as to wed the sister of a wealthy merchant in a bid to save his estate from ruins. Her beauty, therefore, comes as a shock, as does her icy treatment, which he feels he deserves. He swears an oath he will not approach her for an heir unless the invitation comes from her.   

As Phineas sets out to put his estate in order and present his new wife to Society, he finds her more enchanting than he could have hoped for, even in a love match. Kitty continues to hold him at arm’s length, although he suspects her feelings for him run just as deep. As Phineas’s love and desire for his wife grows, the oath he swore her begins to suffocate. It soon becomes clear that while he’d once been prepared to settle for a loveless marriage, he will not abide an unrequited love.   

His Disinclined Bride is a sweet/clean regency romance stand-alone novel, book seven in the Seasons of Change series. ♥  

 

Order Your Copy Today!

   


Buy Link: 


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Disinclined Bride
Author:  Jennie Goutet
Series:  Seasons of Change #7
Genre:   Historical Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   270
Date of Publication:   October 28, 2020
My Rating:    4 Stars

When Kitty Stokes is told by her brother that he has arranged a marriage for her, she feels impelled to agree for the reasons he suggests. While she knows this will not be a love match, she has always longed or a family of her own and this might be her only opportunity to make that wish come true. While she will miss the time spent with her brother's children, and also her much younger brother, she is determined to make things work.

Phineas Hayworth is tired of being under his father's control and longs to make his life his own. Settling for a woman he's never met, he seeks to prove to his father that he can make his own home, especially when the bride price will be enough for him to start on his own. The first time he sets eyes on Kitty is just before their vows and the first thing Phineas notices is the stunning beauty that she is. It does not take him long to realize that she is just as kind as she is beautiful.

Kitty is more than nervous about her first night with her surprisingly handsome new husband. She is fully aware that he married her for anything but love, but soon finds that he intends to give her opportunity to get to know him. Meanwhile, Kitty cannot forget about her younger brother and worry for him only adds to her concerns.

In this slow burn romance, completely sweet by historical romance standards, Kitty and Phineas learn much about each other. It was interesting to see who would bend first when it came time to address their growing attraction for one another. I loved how this book developed, especially considering the conflicts facing them. I love how Phineas and Kitty worked through their differences, all while love was slowly developing for them. This is my first book by Jennie Goutet and I definitely look forward to reading more from her again.


About Jennie Goutet:


Jennie Goutet is an American-born Anglophile, who lives with her French husband and their three children in a small town outside Paris. Her imagination resides in Regency England, where her historical romances are set. Jennie is also author of the award-winning memoir, Stars Upside Down, and the modern romances, A Sweetheart in Paris and A Noble Affair. A Christian, a cook, and an inveterate klutz, Jennie writes about faith, food, and life—even the clumsy moments—on her blog, aladyinfrance.com. You can learn more about Jennie and her books on her author website, jenniegoutet.com.  
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Thursday, October 29, 2020

BLOG TOUR - Murder on the Dance Floor



DESCRIPTION:

Kitty Underhay’s dance card is full… of death.

November 1933. Amateur sleuth-cum-dutiful granddaughter Kitty Underhay stifles a sigh of boredom as she attends the annual Hoteliers' Association Dinner and Dance on behalf of her grandmother, the proprietress of the Dolphin Hotel. She hopes the company of ex-army captain Matthew Bryant will enliven the otherwise dull evening. That is, until bullish and overbearing local councillor Harold Everton drops dead into his bowl of consommé.

While the local police are still scrambling for their whistles, Kitty and Matt waste no time leaping into action. Soon they find themselves caught up a dangerous search to uncover who amongst the distinguished guests used cyanide for seasoning?

When their digging throws light on a corruption scandal brewing in the local council involving Everton’s assistant Thomas King, they are sure they’ve cracked the case. But before he can be questioned further, King’s body is found in a smouldering car wreck. Meanwhile, the murderer has made a sinister plan to avoid detection or punishment, and it will lead Kitty and Matt into a dangerous dance with death…

A fast, fun and utterly unputdownable Golden Age cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss.


BUY LINK:


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Murder on the Dance Floor
Author:  Helena Dixon
Series:  A Miss Underhay Mystery #4
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   367
Date of Publication:   October 28, 2020
My Rating:   4 Stars

Kitty Underhay has proved herself to be quite the amateur detective. Time and again, murder and other serious crimes prove to follow her wherever she goes. When Kitty is attending a dinner in place of her grandmother, someone drops dead after consuming a bowl of soup. There is no way Kitty could ignore what is going on. Along with dear friend and love interest Matthew Bryant, Kitty begins looking for answers.

It doesn't take Kitty and Matt long to recognize the cause of death and who they think could be the murderer, but a wrench is definitely thrown into the plans when another murder soon takes place. Will the pair be able to find out who is committing these murders, all the while keeping free from danger themselves? Political corruption seems to be behind these murders so Kitty and Matt leave no stone unturned. Along the way, Kitty continues her search for answers about the disappearance of her mother from years ago. 

Having read the three previous books in the series, I am well acquainted with Kitty and Matt. However, each book has its own story so these could serve as standalone novels. However, as someone who truly enjoys continuity, I think other readers would enjoy this book more by reading this series in order.  The 1930s time period,  along with it being a cozy mystery, makes this book and the previous books delightful reads. The mix of historical fiction along with the mystery contained makes for a very good book that is rich with atmosphere and relatable characters. As Kitty and Matt become even closer, I am eager for the next book in this engaging series. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nell Dixon was born and continues to live in the Black Country. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, a crazy cockapoo and a tank of tropical fish. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. Her addictions of choice are coffee and reality TV. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 with her book Marrying Max, and winner of Love Story of the Year 2010 with her book, Animal Instincts. She also writes historical 1930's set cozy crime as Helena Dixon.

Author Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.nelldixon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nell.dixon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NellDixon

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

BLOG TOUR - Where Butterflies Go



Where Butterflies Go by Debra Doxer

Publication Date: October 7, 2020
Paperback & eBook; 270 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


DESCRIPTION:

Meira Sokolow had the misfortune of being born to Jewish parents in Warsaw, Poland, in 1912. Before she took her first breath, her fate had been sealed.

Residing in the Jewish Quarter of the city, Meira’s early life was typical. She fell in love with a local boy, got married, and had a daughter. Then the German army marched into Warsaw and everything changed. Forced into the ghetto with her family, she found survival to be a daily struggle. Hunger, disease, and unimaginable cruelty were her stark realities. When the ghetto was purged and she was sent to a concentration camp, Meira still had her family, and that was all that mattered. Then the camp was liquidated, and only a handful of survivors remained out of thousands. Meira Sokolow was one of them.

No longer a wife or mother, Meira emigrated to New York City. After World War II, the world wanted to move on and start a new chapter, but Meira couldn’t turn the page so easily. She walked through her days alone, like a ghost with nothing to tether her to the earth. Then she met Max, a handsome American, who first mistook her for one of the boring socialites he encountered every day. He soon learned she was unlike anyone he had met before, seeing her strength and resilience, even when she couldn’t. Max knew he could breathe life into her again, if only she would let him.

Tragic and heartfelt, Where Butterflies Go is based on the harrowing true story of one woman’s survival during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and her struggle to find meaning in the aftermath.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Where Butterflies Go 
Author:  Debra Doxer
Genre:   Historical Fiction
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   272
Date of Publication:   October 7, 2020
My Rating:   5 Stars

In this incredibly touching story by Debra Doxer we meet Meira Sokolow, a Jewish woman born in Poland in 1912. She married young to a man her parents wanted for her older sister. Then after the German army invaded Warsaw, everything Meira had was lost. Along with her husband and daughter, she survived in the ghetto for years. Things were horrid during those years. They suffered from hunger and disease, with things ending very badly for everyone Meira loved.

A rare survivor, she was able to emigrate to New York City, and had hopes of starting over, and at the very least, with her sister who fortunately got out of Poland before things changed so drastically there. Although Meira is now safe, she is hardly the woman she used to be, and is more like a shadow passing through time. While she struggled to make her way she met a man named Max, who was enamored with her from the very start.

The seriousness of this book did not let up, especially as Meira went through the various phases of her life, to the moments of levity when hope began to shine through. I loved the tie in with the butterflies as the story progressed, all the way through to the heartwarming ending.

While reading this book I felt for Meira more than words could express. To see her go through the motions every day of her life, with challenge after challenge facing her was so very hard. But to see her life take a turn for the better, especially when love began to slowly enter into the picture was quite remarkable. This incredible story is one that I will not forget any time soon. 

Many thanks to Debra Doxer and HF Virtual Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.



Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 12

Tuesday, October 13

Wednesday, October 14
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Monday, October 19
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

Tuesday, October 20

Thursday, October 22

Saturday, October 24

Monday, October 26

Wednesday, October 28

Friday, October 30
Interview at Novels Alive

Sunday, November 1
Review at YA, it's Lit

Wednesday, November 4
Interview at Books & Benches

Thursday, November 5
Review at Girl Who Reads

Friday, November 6
Feature at The Lit Bitch

Monday, November 9

Tuesday, November 10

Thursday, November 12
Review at Novels Alive

Friday, November 13
Review at Bookramblings

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away three $25 Amazon Gift Cards! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on November 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.


About the Author

Debra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When not writing, she's walking her Havanese puppy and forcing her daughter to listen to new wave 80s music."

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

 Goodreads | Newsletter


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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

BLOG TOUR - Rescue You

 
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DESCRIPTION:

She needs a fresh start. He’s got scars that haven’t healed. With the help of some rescue dogs, they’ll discover that everyone deserves a chance at happiness.

After a year of heartbreak and loss, the only thing keeping Constance afloat is the dog rescue she works at with her sister, Sunny. Desperate for a change, Constance impulsively joins a new gym, even though it seems impossibly hard, and despite the gym’s prickly owner.

Rhett Santos keeps his gym as a refuge for his former-military brothers and to sweat out his own issues. He’s ready to let the funny redhead join, but unprepared for the way she wiggles past his hard-won defenses.

When their dog rescue is threatened, the sisters fight to protect it. And they need all the help they can get. As Rhett and Constance slowly open up to each other, they’ll find that no one is past rescuing; what they need is the right person—or dog—to save them.


BUY LINKS:
MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Rescue You
Author:  Elysia Whisler
Publisher:  MIRA
Genre:   Romance; Women's Fiction
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   384
Date of Publication:   October 27, 2020
My Rating:   4 Stars

Constance Morrigan and her sister Sunny are very busy when it comes to rescuing dogs from puppy mills, even if it means taking illegal actions when they deem it necessary. Meanwhile, Constance has joined a new gym, and this brings her into contact with the owner, Rhett Santos. The two soon find that they have a lot in common, despite Rhett's reticence to become involved.

Keeping the dog rescue afloat is Constance's ultimate goal, even it involves risk and danger. This book most certainly touches on the serious subject of puppy mills. The sisters have no trouble stepping over any lines when it comes to barging in and dealing with the owners of these despicable mills, focusing on one woman named Janice Matteri in particular. Constance and Sunny work together quite well, and all the while romance begins to bloom for for Constance.

This story by Elysia Whisler deals with issues both serious and light. Readers get to see the efforts behind rescuing and training dogs, while romance is developing behind the scenes. It was not easy to read of the cruelty behind puppy mills, so the romance that was forming was a nice distraction when it came to this story. I liked the fact that the romance was secondary in this book and that the focus of the dogs took the main part of the story. This excellent story is one that I enjoyed throughout and was more than pleased as the ending proved delightful for both the dogs and the people involved.

Many thanks to MIRA for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy the following excerpt:
One Constance slammed on her brakes. Steam rose from the street as rain gurgled through the ditches. She killed the engine, stepped into the pattering droplets and scanned the shoulder of the road. Nothing there but the remains of a goose carcass. “Where are you, boy?” Constance gave a low whistle.

It hadn’t been her imagination. The picked-over goose only made her more certain she’d seen a dog, weaving through the foggy afternoon air like a phantom. A lost dog, with his head bent against the rain as he loped along the muddy ditch.

Constance whistled again. Silence, but for the sound of rain hitting the trees that lined the road. “Maybe I’m just tired.” She’d done a lot of massages today, which made her feel wrung out. Constance almost ducked back into the van, but halted.

There he was: a white face with brown patches, peeking at her from behind a bush. “Hey, boy.” Constance squatted down, making herself smaller, less threatening. The dog watched, motionless. Constance drew a biscuit from her coat, briefly recalling the cashier’s amusement at the grocery store today when she’d emptied her pockets on the counter, searching for her keys. Five dog biscuits had been in the pile with her phone, a used tissue and the grocery list.

“Dog mom, huh?” the elderly cashier had said.

“Something like that.” More like dog aunt, to all of the rescues at Pittie Place. Her sister, Sunny, had quite the brood.

Constance laid the biscuit near her foot and waited. A moment later, the bush rustled and the dog approached. He had short hair and big shoulders. He got only as close as he needed to, then stretched his neck out for the prize. As he gingerly took the biscuit, Constance noted a droopy abdomen and swollen nipples, like a miniature cow.

So. He was a she. Constance inched toward her. The dog held on to the biscuit, but reared back. Constance extended her fist, slowly, so the mom could smell her. “You got puppies somewhere?”

The dog whimpered, but crunched up the biscuit.

“Where are your puppies?”

The dog whimpered again. Her legs shook. Her fur was muddy, feet caked with dirt. She had blood on her muzzle— probably from the dead goose. By her size and coloring, Constance decided she was a pit bull.

Constance rose up, patted her thigh and headed toward her van. She slid open the side door, grabbed a blanket and spread it out, but when she turned around, the dog was several yards away. Her brown-and-white head was low as she wandered beneath a streetlamp, the embodiment of despair in the drizzle that danced through the light.

Constance followed, slipping on the leaves that clogged the drainage ditch. The dog glanced once over her shoulder, but her pace didn’t quicken. Constance decided her calm demeanor was working, keeping the dog from fleeing. And let’s be honest: the biscuit hadn’t hurt. Chances were, the dog would be happy to have more as soon as she got wherever she was going. “Let’s see where you’re headed, then. Show me if you’ve got a home.”

Constance followed her across the road, around the curve and down the narrow lane. Frogs popped like happy corn all over the slick street, but the chill of the oncoming winter slithered through Constance’s blood.

She followed the dog for a good quarter mile. Even before she hooked a left down the unpaved road hidden behind the trees, Constance had figured out that the mama was headed to one of the handful of empty places that sat decomposing on the hundred or so acres the Matteri family owned. Constance paused only long enough to squelch the sizzle of anger that bubbled up inside before she pressed on, determined to know if the dog was a stray or a neglected mother from Janice Matteri’s puppy mill.

Constance took the same turn and watched as the dog neared the abandoned house up ahead. Nobody had lived there in years. It was only a matter of time before it became condemned. The dog bypassed the crumbling porch of the old colonial and went around back. Constance knew little daylight was left, and she hadn’t brought a flashlight. She broke into a trot, clutched her coat tighter around her and didn’t slow until the dog came back into view. Constance followed her, her heart thumping harder with each step.

The dog passed the rusted chain-link fence and disappeared over a rise in the property, near an old shed so overgrown with trees it was only recognizable by a pale red door. Just as she reached the hill, Constance heard a squeak. The sort of high-pitched noise that echoes from everywhere and nowhere all at once. Another squeak came. And another. She crested the hill and saw the dog slink inside the shed door. Constance got to the shed and pushed inside. The dog had reached her destination: a battered old mattress, three shades of brown, lying a few feet inside. The mewls, now loud and hungry, came from a shredded section of the mattress.

Constance narrowed her eyes. At first, she counted only two bobbing, brown heads, but as she drew closer there was a third. Then a fourth. The last one didn’t move nearly as much, just sort of waded on his stomach. The puppies had cocoa-colored fur and black muzzles. Eyes open. The ones that moved didn’t really walk, just stumbled into each other, like drunks. Mama dog curled around them and they all wiggled toward her abdomen.

Constance knelt down next to the mattress and watched the suckling puppies. She decided they were about two weeks old. The air in the shed smelled of sour milk, poop and urine. She dug out another biscuit and reached, slowly, her hand in a fist to protect her fingers, her gaze on the mama for any sign she was upset, such as pinned ears, bared teeth or a raised ridge of fur down the back. The energy around the mom and her pups was calm, to the point of exhausted. Constance had certainly helped with enough of Sunny’s dogs over the years to know. She offered the biscuit and the mom took it. With her mouth busy, Constance carefully touched the smallest puppy, who shook so hard the tremble came from deep inside, beneath his skin and fur, straight from his bones.

Constance rose slowly and did a quick search of the vicinity for more puppies, which turned up nothing but trash, vermin and an old orange crate, which she brought over to the mattress. Now to see if Mom was going to accept help.

Though daylight was precious, Constance waited until the pups were done suckling before she offered a third treat. “Let’s go back to my place,” Constance said as Mom accepted the biscuit. “My sister has a rescue for critters, just like you. And I help her all the time. You’ll be safe there. Does that sound okay?”

While Mama crunched, Constance reached for the two pups closest to her and, keeping an eye on Mom the whole time, she lifted them and settled them in the crate. Mom’s chewing quickened, so Constance acted fast, lifting the last two pups swiftly but carefully. She rose to her feet, crate in her arms. The mother dog was on her feet almost ahead of her, pointing her muzzle at the crate and whining.

Constance knew the mom would follow her anywhere she took those pups, but she also lacked any signs of aggression, almost as though she knew that this was their only chance. Or as Pete, owner of Canine Warriors and Constance’s longtime childhood friend, would put it, “You just got something about you, Cici. Everybody trusts you. People. Dogs. The damn Devil himself.”

Constance headed back to her van, chasing the sunset. As expected, the mother followed. Once to the vehicle, Constance opened the van and set the crate full of pups next to the blanket she’d spread out earlier. The mama dog leaped in after them.

Constance slid the door closed, settled behind the steering wheel and let out a great sigh. Mission accomplished. She edged down the long, lonely road. The rain pattered on the windshield and the scent of dirty puppies hit her nose. She’d take them home tonight and get them settled in, see how they reacted to a new environment, then text Sunny in the morning. Constance had worked with enough dogs, and people, to know that introducing another new person this evening was bad news. Let Mama get used to Constance first, and get some good food and rest, before she was moved to Pittie Place.

Tonight, at least, this girl and her babies belonged with Constance.

Excerpted from Rescue You by Elysia Whisler Copyright © Elysia Whisler. Published by MIRA Books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elysia Whisler was raised in Texas, Italy, Alaska, Mississippi, Nebraska, Hawai'i and Virginia, in true military fashion. Her nomadic life has made storytelling a compulsion from a young age. 

She doubles as a mother, a massage therapist and a CrossFit trainer and is dedicated to portraying strong women, both in life and in her works. She lives in Virginia with her family, including her large brood of cat and dog rescues, who vastly outnumber the humans.

SOCIAL:
Facebook: @ElysiaWhisler

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