Jenna Mitchell has spent her adult life under the control of her husband, her dreams of owning her own bakery pushed aside. But at twenty-eight, she's finally ready to reclaim her life and pursue her passion. Well⊠almost.
But can she quiet the echoes that keep finding their way back to her? Will the doubts theyâve created make it impossible for her to seeâand trustâthe path forward before her chance at a better life slips through her flour-dusted fingers?
Fans of Rachel Hanna will enjoy this warm and uplifting story about self-discovery, finding the courage to start anew, and the unbreakable bonds of chosen family.
The rumble of the phone against the white laminate broke me from my time-worn daydream. I reached up to adjust the white bakerâs cap that existed only in my mind, pressed pause on my dream, and shook my head to clear it. When I read the caller ID, my stomach folded in on itself.
âCollect callâ
Craig.
I took a deep breath that settled in my chest and refused to return. I set the sifter down on a nearby dish and picked up my phone. For a moment, just a moment, I held it in my hand and considered letting him go to voicemail. But a lifetime of experience told me that ignoring a man who will not be ignored would only delay the inevitable.
"Hello?" I said, forcing the air from my lungs.
My husbandâs out-of-touch politician's voice poured through the phone. âJenna, sweetheart. Are you busy?â Without waiting for me to answer, he continued. âI need you to do me a favor, baby. Can you please come down here and bail me out? I canât sit here for one more day.â
I shifted the phone to my other ear and wrapped my free arm around my waist as I paced the twenty steps it took to reach the other end of my apartment and back. He wasnât going to like my reply. "Craig, I just don't think I can do that. I don't have the money for it right now. I'm sorry."
Recognizing the opening line to the endless refrain of our marriage, I pulled a chair away from my kitchen table and willed my shaky legs to deposit me safely into it.
"Yes, I do remember, Craig. But I still can't afford to come and bail you out right now. I have expenses I need to think about."
"That woman is my boss, and my friend," I reminded him, "and sheâs been nice enough to let me stay here."
"You don't need to stay there," Craig argued back. "What you need to do is come and get me so we can go home together where we belong.â
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR:
Jess Ames is knocking on the door of fifty, but has the sense of humor of a twelve year old and the body of a fifty-four-year-old (according to her fitness app).
She is âmamaâ to nine, âmimiâ to four, âfriendâ to all, an adequate wife, and living the dream of the little girl who wanted to be a writer when she grew up.
They are both still waiting for that moment, so sheâs writing in the meantime.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Christopher Kaufman will be awarding $45 worth of digital
products from his website to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner
to see the other stops on the tour.
A young civilization is turning the corner into the
future, but first they must face a terrible enemy from their deepest past - The
Vorm..
The main characters are a young man named Harlâut and his
lifelong companion Vispushin - who is a perIanth, a kind of telepathic pegasus.
Join them on this epic adventure as they lead a group of young warriors into
the heart of the Vorm Hive.
Book One: Battle In The Sky is the first of five books which
comprise the opening series of this epic tale. Here, Harlâut and Vispushin and
The Princess Brynâlynn, engage in desperate battle over the southern plain with
savage Vorm warriors. You will be uplifted by the passionate and thrilling
conclusion of the first installment of this fantasy adventure.
Book Two: Descent Into The Abyss, Harlâut recovers from his
harrowing adventure from Book One: Battle In The Sky. He walks through the
streets of The Ocean City, visits the Sculpture Garden and his friend, ElĂĄ, the
bard, and engages in exciting training games with warrior/mentor, Calanctus.
Then the story takes you down the throat of the vast volcano, Plaâthanâtaa,
once worshipped as a god, where Harlâut enacts a deadly initiation ritual,
confronts the barbaric past of his people and battles a terrifying monster.
Read an Excerpt
Next to the eerie bulk of the WarChief alit the most
impressive of all Perianths, the silver-maned stallion, Zhiâgaâfra. On his back
was a man, lean and tall, his skin a deep burnt-orange color. Light green armor
adorned his body. Whitish hair sprouted from under a simple gold helm. A mystical
spray of light refracted from a bright green diamond prism in place of his left
eye.
Verden, the ancient warrior who served as war-leader of
Plaâthanâtaa, should such be needed, dismounted Zhiâgaâfra and pulled from the
hideous bulk his green lance. He cleaned it on the tall grass next to the lake
and looked about him. The WarChiefâs remains were now collapsed in a heap, but
Verdin noticed movement.
He went to it, kicked around, he saw the bulbous antennae on
the WarChiefâs head pulsing like a beacon. He drew a green coral blade from his
sash, cut out the grotesque tentacle and tossed it, now lifeless, beside the
wrack.
He felt a crushing weight of sadness fall upon him. He
looked over to see Zhiâgaâfra, standing over the body of Zhiiâgla, his son.
Verdin sighed, âI am so sorry dear friend... he was a great
being... and died a tremendous warrior...â in response he felt from Zhiâgaâfra
only a complex wave of grief, almost beyond even his ability to translate in
his mind...âThere will be more strife Zhi'ga'fra... I see war ahead.â
âYes...as do I,â echoed the great creature, âThese...
things...Perianthâs have fought them before...long ago... an age past...I
believe your race has encountered them as well...â Imagery now streamed in
Verdinâs inner eye as he glimpsed the scenes ïŹowing in Zhiâgaâfraâs mind.
âWe thought they were all destroyed...we call them... the
VORM...they are hideous and evil...and incredibly dangerous if their hive is
reformed.â
About the Author:
Christopher Kaufman is an author, composer,
presenter, illustrative artist and performer. He started imaginative fantasy
books with illustrative art at the age of nine. During high school years he
found music and attended The New Orleans Center for The Creative Arts and went
on to major in music composition in college. He ïŹnished his schooling - earning
his DMA in music composition at Cornell University where he studied with
Pulitzer Prize Winning composers who prize his abilities as a composer.
Christopher is the type of person who needs imaginative
fantasy scenarios to get to sleep. Therefore, he emerged from Cornell, not only
with his degrees in music, but with the full event structure for his classic
epic fantasy series Tales Of The Ocean City in his mind.
He began writing the story down in the early 2000âs, but it
did not really come to life until he developed his home music âlaboratoryâ and
started creating the music and text at the same time. Thus books one and two of
TOC came about simultaneously as both graphically illustrated pages and
effulgent audio albums ïŹlled with cinematic epic symphonic music.
They exist now as physical books and audio albums (that go
together) and the new Video Book version. He performs live tours with the music
pouring through speakers, live narration and the colorful pages streaming on
screen -a true immersive multi-media experience.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions to celebrate the release day of ONLY IN SEPTEMBER by
Cynthia Flowers. Cynthia will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a
randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the
tour.
When Jacqueline follows her
trusty Labrador Bailey down a hidden path to the beach, she's unaware that her
vacation plans on a small island off the New England coast has already taken
her life in a new direction. Running into an unassuming local beach comber
stirs new thoughts, desires, and a self-determination she never knew she
possessed. Jacqueline will need to trust her instincts and make the most of
what fate has in store if she wants the future that, until now, she has only
dared to dream of.
Read an Excerpt
The ferry was taking its sweet time making its way to Block
Island.
Time is the ultimate dictator. Where did I hear that? I
couldnât have just come up with that one on my own.
Jacqueline French grabbed one of the last outside seats on
the Block Island Ferry. It had only left Point Judith, RI, ten minutes ago, but
for her, it seemed like ten hours ago. This would be her fourth September
visiting this tiny tear drop-shaped island nestled between the south coast of
Rhode Island and Montauk Point, located at the eastern tip of the south fork of
Long Island, New York.
She always preferred visiting Block Island this time of
year, after many of the Labor Day vacation stragglers dispersed and the kids
were back at school. Although there were still a fair number of visitors, the
din of racing mopeds was confined mostly to the weekends. Thanks to Michael,
who she met on her first trip to Block Island, she came to know virtually every
back road and trail on this seven-mile-long by three-mile-wide island. Beyond
its beauty, Jacquelineâs deeper connection with the island was its shape. She
shed many tears lately over the fate of her marriage and the direction her life
had taken.
She always brought Bailey, her chocolate Labrador retriever,
on her September sojourns to Block Island. Bailey enjoyed seeing the seals
every year, and they seemed curious about her. But Bailey had become too
arthritic to make the trip this year.
About the Author: Cynthia Flowers, a
recently retired advertising professional, now grant writer, resides with her
husband and four-year old Labrador named Eddie, at their âsanctuaryâ in Upstate
New York, Although previously published, this is Cynthia's first book of
fiction. Early on in grade school, Cynthia looked forward to creative writing
class and enjoyed reading her stories aloud to her eager classmates.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Joanie Olson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card
to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on
the tour.
Searching for an answer to a question you haven't
asked yet? You are not alone. One small realization and a whole world
unravels.
Woven through these pages are a series of my most
significant life events relating to narcissistic victim/survivor syndrome.
Inside are keys unlocking mysteries of complex PTSD, compounded through various
forms of abuse.
A journey of highs, like the Freedom Convoy, and the lows of
a failed longtime marriage. With spiritual forces at work behind the scenes,
could a Christian home have so many secrets? The smoke will clear to reveal our
true mirrored self.
Read an Excerpt
I was paralyzed, not just by fear but by dread and over
exhaustion. It felt as though given the opportunity I could sleep for days, yet
struggled to find rest. I relied on prescribed meds, and the morning was
showing the outcome of dependence. Irish cream was a favorite to put in my
first cups of coffee for added motivation. As nice as this hotel was, there was
no minibar to ease the angst.
I was immobilized, unable to move, begging God to take me.
How can I do this? How can I manage the full brunt of this day without any of
the vices that helped me survive for some time?
I turned on the TV, made some hotel room coffee and laid
there motionless, praying for the Lord to take me home. A text came in from my
office manager, Sharon, a reserved woman who I had a sincere bond with. She
encouraged me daily, and I valued her advice.
âHey girlie, how are you doing over there?â
My response was as she suspected. She knew how hard the
meetings were for me. She was my closest confidant, a friend that sticks closer
than a brother. Such a blessing to me, she was gifted with an ear to listen,
non-judgmental and caring. She loved me and I loved her right back.
I told her about forgetting my pills and couldnât get out of
bed. I couldnât do anything. Her response was comforting. She said, âThen
donât, donât go. Do what you need to do. Take care of yourself and donât worry
about the rest.â Her approval in this seemed to sooth my soul. She made me
self-aware that I DID have the power to not go if I didnât want to. I could
just say I wasnât feeling well, but something inside me wonât give up. I canât
give in to negative, intrusive thoughts just waiting for my demise.
About the Author: Joanie was raised on a
farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. Life revolved around chores, school and church.
Six older siblings and all the nieces and nephews added up to a large family.
Strong in doctrine and armed with a passion for truth, she's
walked the walk of faith, facing challenges to overcome. She was married at 19,
became a mother to a stepdaughter, and later birthed two children. Following
years of turmoil in her marriage, she hit the inevitable breaking point.
Starting life over, she attended broadcasting college, going
on to anchor morning news for the airwaves. Feeling isolated and rejected, her
drive to help others who have gone through similar circumstances inspired this
book. Through the Refiners fire, she's ready to share tools required to escape
the fake and embrace the truth.
To celebrate A Dilemma for the
Duke's release, I'm thrilled to join the
A Marriage to the Marquess
book tour. USA Bestselling author Ruth A. Casie combines regency romance with
suspense, swoon-worthy heros and smart heroines. Check out an excerpt below and
be sure to take advantage of pre-release pricing for book two.
In a world of secrets,
love, and ticking clocks, their alliance of convenience may just become a
marriage of the heart.
Ewan,
the Marquess of Glenraven, finds himself returning to his home in Belgrave
Square, summoned back to London by his former commanding officer, Lord
Barrington. Ewanâs been entrusted with the task of unraveling a deceitful
gambling scheme and uncovering the truth behind the mysterious deaths tied to
it. He is also faced with a pressing personal ultimatum: either secure his
trust by marrying by his 30th birthday, five weeks hence, or risk losing it
all.
In Cavendish Square, a mile north of Belgravia,
Lady Juliet Hayward carries the heavy burden of her late brother, Bradleyâs
gambling debts. Her own future teeters on the brink of destitution. Determined
to confront the man who has her brotherâs vowels and control of her survival,
sheâs determined to find him and negotiate a solution.
As Ewan and Juliet are drawn together, they conceal their true intentions,
not knowing they both seek the one person who holds the cards. However, time is
not on their side. In a bold move, they confess to each other and devise a
planâa marriage of convenience, a calculated business arrangementâto simultaneously
fulfill Ewanâs inheritance requirement, settle Julietâs brotherâs debts, and
expose the scheming ringleader As they dig deeper, they uncover a far-reaching
conspiracy, orchestrated by a clandestine organization manipulating events from
behind the scenes. Yet, a single kiss on their wedding day unleashes a deluge
of conflicting emotions within each of them, shattering their carefully
constructed façade.
This is a
breathtaking Regency tale of love, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human
spirit.
âOh, sir, could you help us, please?â A neatly
dressed man called out to him from the puppet stage.
The crowd, which he realized had gathered waiting
for the puppet show, turned their attention toward him.
Glenraven scanned the area, unsure if the gentleman
was calling out to him. He glanced back at the man.
âYes, sir, you. You look like a man who would help
a lady in distress.â A soft chuckle rippled through the onlookers. âIt is a
simple script that needs to be read.â
âForgive me. I would gladly help a lady in
distress.â Glenraven glanced at the crowd. âI see some lovely ladies.â He
nodded to several ladies not too far from him. âBut I do not see any ladies in
distress.â
The man operating the puppet stage peeked under the
curtain. âMy lady. Are you in distress?â he called out.
âYes, my lord,â came a voice from behind the
curtain. As the puppet master opened the curtain, a female puppet was revealed.
âI have no Punch.â
Glenraven checked his watch. It was ten minutes
past one. âNeâer let it be said that I didnât come to a ladyâs aid.â
Glenraven made his way to the stage to the crowdâs
chuckling and applauding.
âThank you, my lord. Thank you.â the puppet master
whispered to him before turning to address the audience.
âKind people. I am the puppet master, Percival
Thimbleby. Youâve already met Miss Juliet Hayward, who will be our Judy. She
has taken her place. This is,â the puppet master turned to Glenraven and
waited. He coughed and waited a bit more. âAnd this is?â He raised his eyebrows
at his Punch.
With a good natured smile, he slightly bowed to the
audience. âLord Glenraven at your service.â
âMy lord.â The puppet master doffed his cap and
bowed to him. âLadies and Gents, we have a real hero,â he added with a playful
eye roll, making everyone laugh. âLord Glenraven will be playing our Punch. We
are fortunate to have found two willing people to help us today. They do not
know what has happened in the story so far. It will be very telling how they
portray this scene. Be gentle with my actors, my friends. I dare say they are
new to this trade. We want to encourage them. Who knows, you may witness the
beginning of a most enchanting partnership.â
The puppet master turned to Glenraven. âThis way,
my lord. While you and your Judy say your lines, I will manage the
puppets.â
He guided Glenraven to his spot, handed him his
script, and then returned to address the audience.
Glenraven glanced at the paper and burst into
laughter, the sound echoing for all to hear.
âAre you all right, my lord?â the puppet master
called out.
âQuite. I see you are also a magician. For us
mortals, the script is blank.â
The audience laughed along with him, clearly in on
the jest.
âWell, my lord. I am a poor puppet master. I only
had one script and, as a gallant puppet master, gave it to your Judy as I know
you would want me to. After all, you are a gallant hero.â
âYes, I am.â Glenraven chuckled. âI accept the
challenge. You, my friend, may have to suffer the consequences.â
âVery well, my lord. I am certain your quick wit
and heroism will come to the fore.â Again, the audience chuckled.
The puppet master turned to the audience.
âI will set the stage. Punch has brought back a
treasure and must convince his Judy to let him keep it.â The puppet master
paused. âPunch. You can begin whenever you are ready.â
Glenraven took a moment, cleared his throat, and
began with a theatrical flair.
âOh, Judy, my love.â Glenravenâs voice, a warm
whiskey baritone, rang out. âI have fought hard and long. Iâve brought back a
treasure. It must be protected at all costs.â He paused a heartbeat and
continued, his voice a bit lower, âI wonât let anyone take it from
us!â
âBut Punch, dear, we must be careful.â His Judyâs
voice was sweet and slightly breathless. âThere are those who covet what we
have.â
âFear not, my sweet Judy.â Glenravenâs Punch
declared with theatrical bravado. âIâll stand against them all, even if it
means facing the darkest of contenders.â
He imagined Judy gazing at Punch as she went on,
her voice sweet and a touch unsteady, âThen let us be strong together, my
Punch. Our love will guide us through.â
Glenraven stared at the curtain separating him from
his Judy and put the papers down. He focused all his attention on his unseen
partner.
âAnd when the storm clouds gather,â Punch
continued, his tone filled with anticipation, âand the world around us seems
uncertain...â A dramatic pause lingered. âWeâll find shelter in each otherâs
arms, and our hearts will be our fortress. But, Judy, my love,â Punchâs voice
softened, âthereâs one thing you must know. Our journey wonât always be
easy.â
The puppet master skillfully moved Punch to Judyâs
side, his puppet arm around her.
âI understand, Punch. Iâm prepared to face whatever
challenges lie ahead.â
âThen, my dear Judy, let us embark on this
adventure together, hand in hand.â The puppet master had Punch take Judyâs
hand.
âTogether, weâll find the strength to conquer all,â
Judy declared.
âAnd as we travel through lifeâs mysterious twists
and turns...â Punch turned his head and looked around. âWeâll uncover the
secrets hidden in the shadows, and they shall not hold us back. Judy, my love,â
Punchâs tone deepened with passion, âdesire burns within me like an
unquenchable fire.â
Judy delicately touched Punchâs face. âAnd what of
commitment, Punch? Will your flames endure, or will they be snuffed
out?â
âFear not, dear Judy,â Even the audience could hear
the smile in Punchâs voice, âfor desire may kindle our passion, but itâs a
commitment that fuels our eternal flame.â
âThen let our love burn brighter than the stars,
Punch, for we are bound by both desire and commitment.â
This little game excited Glenraven in ways he
hadnât anticipated. The essence of sincerity he heard in âJudyâsâ voice warmed
him. The more he spoke, the more the line between him and his Punch
blurred.
Absurd. He gave himself a mental shake. This puppet
performance is only a game. Judy isnât the only one capable of playing a
believable game.
âSo, my love,â Punch said tenderly, âlet us dance
through the pages and write our own story, bound by fate and love.â
âForever entwined, together weâll craft our own
destiny. It awaits, Punch, my dearest.â There was a pause. âForever,â was
Judyâs breathless reply.
RUTH A. CASIE is a USA
Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and
contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories
feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She
lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of
incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a
speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer,
and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing
manager, but her favorite job is the one sheâs doing now-writing romance. She
hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Geoffrey R. Jonas will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift
card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other
stops on the tour.
A young woman dies alone in a hotel room, her
fentanyl-poisoned cocaine still on the desk. She had been missing for nearly 2
weeks. Social Services had been trying to find a place for her to live with her
3-year-old son, whom she had left with her parents. Six months later her father
fights for his life in intensive care, but succumbs to his illness because of a
lifelong use of alcohol and tobacco. A month after his death her mother is
assessed by doctors to be unable to care for herself because of her Alzheimer's
and mental health issues brought on by benzodiazepine and alcohol
addiction.
The son, brother, stepson is the only one left to pick up
the pieces. He begins a journey of the self and finds out the truth of his
family. After going over letters, notes, emails, videos, and text messages, he
uncovers a disturbing picture of the abuse his sister suffered at the hands of
their parents. He also begins to better understand his own struggles with
mental health and substance addiction because of the trauma and abuse he also
suffered from their parents.
Follow the son as he looks through his family history to
discover the generational abuse that trickled down through the years. Learn
about how parents who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder emotionally
abuse and manipulate their children. See how the abuse and trauma becomes
mental illness in the abused, and how they fall into vicious traps of
addiction, eating disorders, self-harm, and complex post-traumatic stress
disorder. Witness the transformational change of the son as he works on the recovery
of his inner child and tries to become the man he was meant to
be.
Read an Excerpt
Part 1 - In the beginningâŠ
What Came Before... â Part 1 Maternal Family
History
My mother had a difficult upbringing. My motherâs mother was
continually pregnant for 16 years, producing 4 boys (Robert, Edward, Charles,
Shane) and 3 girls (R â my mother, Lorraine, Claire)2. She would later die of
cancer while the children were young. My motherâs father led a jazz orchestra,
resembling the ones in movies from the early 20th century that didnât fit
neatly into the category of a symphony or a standard band. He had even played
for the queen.
However, the Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) of my grandfather
became overwhelming, and the authorities of that time deemed him unfit to care
for the children. They split the children up and put them into foster care. The
foster care system back then did not have the safety systems we have in place
to protect the children today, and I would not be surprised if some of the
children were further emotionally or physically abused in foster
care.
About the Author: Geoffrey is a
first-time author. He lives peacefully by a lake, spending his time writing,
painting, gardening, and woodworking. His recovery is ongoing, and he enjoys
his privacy and seclusion.
It's been a while since I posted for this meme. So, here is this week's topic:
Are you satisfied with your blog?
"Satisfied" maybe too strong of a word for me.
I started in the middle of 2016 and completely expected to just abandon the whole thing . I am, of course, happy that wasn't the case. I'll just go with I am enjoying the process/journey.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Farid Yaghini will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card
to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on
the tour.
Farid Yaghini's
unforgettable memoir takes you on a journey from escaping persecution in Iran
to rebuilding a life in Canada and serving on the frontlines with the Canadian
military. Filled with humour, heart, and unflinching honesty, his story of
resilience, redemption, and the founding of Camp Aftermath will inspire you to
believe in the power of hope and human connection.
Read an Excerpt
Sitting on the floor of my two-bedroom apartment, surrounded
by half-assembled IKEA furniture and that damn Allen key, I wondered, What the
hell have I done?
Callie, my three-year-old daughter, sat happily among the
chaos, blissfully unaware of the weight of the decisions that had led us here.
Cindy and I had split, and although it was amicable, I knew that simply
clocking in for a nine-to-five job and coasting through life wasnât going to
cut itânot for me, not for her. I needed to be better. I needed to be someone
she could look up to. But how?
As I wrestled with my own demons, I kept seeing news about
veterans taking their own livesâmen and women who had faced the same wars, same
losses, same struggles as me. What if I could do something? What if I could
take all my lessons, my pain, and turn it into something meaningful?
That idea turned into an obsession. My bedroom became an ops
room, plastered with notes, ideas connected by strings like a tactical plan.
Then it hit meâCamp Aftermath. A way to help veterans and first responders heal
through volunteerism, to find purpose, to rewrite their stories.
I had no funding. No roadmap. Just a promise to my daughter
that I would become the kind of man she could be proud of.
And once I made that promise, failure wasnât an option.
About the Author
Farid
Yaghini was born in Iran and fled to Pakistan with his family to escape
religious persecution following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. At the age of
nine, he immigrated to Canada as a refugee, navigating the confusion and
frustration of adapting to a new way of life. Through it all, he carried a deep
sense of resilience, hope, and an irrepressible knack for finding humour, even
in the most challenging moments.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Mike Elliot will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to
a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the
other stops on the tour.
This is the
incredible true story of railroad worker and union official Mike Elliott,
targeted by his railroad employer, BNSF Railway Company, for his safety-related
activities. As the union's state legislative board chair, Elliott was the top
safety official in the state, and the voice for over 900 rank & file
locomotive engineers operating trains around the clock, every day of the
year.
When his members reported a plethora of trackside signal
malfunctions on the BNSF Seattle subdivision, Elliott went to the railroad
first, asking that they fix the problems. When the BNSF failed to act, he
contacted the government's regulatory authority, the Federal Railroad
Administration. That led to an FRA inspection of over 130 miles of the
railroad's track and signal systems turning up hundreds of federal defects â
all with potential to put workers and the public at risk.
What followed was a retaliation plot reminiscent of the
Nineteenth Century Robber Barons: A management-staged conflict at work, police
called in, arrest, jail, criminal charges, and termination from his job â not
once but twice.
The wrath, influence and power of North America's largest
freight railroad is unleased in full force and in an all-out attack on a
whistleblower's life, liberties, and career. An amazing journey of one man's
righteous battle against impossible odds and the nearly unlimited resources of
a multi-billion-dollar corporation.
Read an Excerpt:
Jim Vucinovich called me to the stand. He addressed
background facts concerning my education, current employment, ongoing work for
the BLET, and my past work history, including my USMC service and law
enforcement experience. He asked most specifically about the âinstruction and
training in self-defenseâ I received at the police academy in California and if
that training came into play during the Kautzmann parking lot incident.
âIt had,â I answered.
We left this subject for the moment and went into more of my
work experience, including the history of my railroad career. This gave us an
opportunity to explain something about the labor structure in railroading while
establishing my experience and expertise as a conductor and an engineer. We
eventually zeroed-in on my knowledge of signals and safety, the nature of the
signal complaints I received from my Union Pacific BLET members, and, most
significantly, processes associated with tri-annual engineer recertification.
I testified to being through it several times previously,
describing the âNet-Simâ (network simulator), its role in the process and how
Net-Sim scheduling was accomplished through the company payroll computer. Jim
also asked questions about the driverâs license abstract, the requirement it be
submitted along with other documents to BNSFâs Overland Park, Kansas
certification department and how Washington State only allows the licensee to
obtain a copy of their own driving abstract. This was important information
establishing that Dennis Kautzmann had no legitimate reason for contacting me
on March 3rd, 2011, as the Net-Sim scheduling notifications were done through
the payroll computer.
The testimony also laid the foundation for countering BNSFâs
false assertion I had failed to submit my tri-annual recertification paperwork
in a timely manner, or had submitted paperwork from the previous tri-annual
recertification in 2005, by identifying the keeper of those records: BNSF
certification manager Kathy Conkling.
From here, Jim led me through testimony about my safety work
for BLET. I explained that I got into safety because I saw a disconnect between
what workers learned in classroom training and what they experienced in the
field.
About the Author:
Mike Elliott was born
and raised in Washington State. He enjoys the great outdoors of the Pacific
Northwest, classic rock & roll music, vintage stereo gear, home cooked
meals, and Seattle Mariners baseball. He lives in Tacoma, Washington.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Fleur Lamot will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to
a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the
tour.
A step-by-step guide to
navigating dating and finding love on the World Wide Web, written by someone
with firsthand experience on the topic, and who has also tested the theory on a
number of case studies and through research. Authored from a female
perspective, directed to a female audience, although potentially an eye opening
and helpful read for a male reader too.
This book is not about making you a better person, nor is it
a self help book. It is about changing your mindset when embarking on singledom
and internet dating to not fear it, by equipping you with the understanding of
people's actions and motives.
Throughout the book you will be guided in setting up your
online profile, picking your match, the all important art and the do's and
don'ts through every step of courting someone, all the way to going forward
with your ultimate love match!
Reading this book will bring you confidence and or at least
clarity. It will make you think about your past experiences and open your eyes
to see where they may have gone wrong, and more importantly to ensure the same
mistakes don't happen to you on future experiences.
Read an Excerpt
Long gone are the days of meeting a potential partner in a
bar or at a music festival or at parties. You might be lucky enough to do so,
but as time goes on and you get older, or as you and your potentials rely more
on technology to meet someone, or as you lose the skills to do so by becoming
accustomed to technology, the chances are getting thinner. There will be fewer
parties with fewer single people, or there will be more awkward interactions at
these parties, or your friends will grow old and become tired of attending
music festivals and going to bars. Also, letâs face it: as we get older, the
music at venues become too loud and we simply just want to have a good
conversation, good food, and good wine which brings on more occasions like
dinner events and dinner parties. These are the least likely type of events to
meet someone, unless you are lucky enough to be set up by a mutual friend.
So, you might find yourself single and at a loss. Maybe it
simply might be that all your friends are in relationships and you have no one
to go out with. This is where online dating comes into play. Online dating has
such a bad stigma, but if you look at it at another way, whilst your friends
are becoming old and boring or are in relationships and/or just donât want to
go out anymore for whatever reason, you have an infinite number of potential
new people to meet and play with who are in the exact same boat as you.
About the Author: I successfully found
love online using historical principles, understanding people's motives and
actions, listening to the right people, as well as trusting my own instincts. I
am now married and a mother. I am a business woman with a very successful
business, built from extensive networking and relationship management
experience. I have received professional mentoring and coaching, which has
helped me achieve all of this.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Rhonda Blackhurst will be awarding a free e-book of Inn
the Dead of Winter or book one, Inn the Spirit of Murder to a randomly drawn
winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome to Spirit Lake in
the dead of a Minnesota winter, where the brutally cold temp isn't the only
thing to fear.
Andie Rose Kaczmarek, a six-year sober life coach and owner
of the haunted Spirit Lake Inn, has learned the hard way that the living are
far more dangerous than anything in the spirit world.
When a controversial guest fails to return to her room on
the same night a body is discovered in a fish house on Big Spirit Lake, Andie
Rose teams up with her sponsor and sidekick, Sister Alice, and her emotional
support red retriever, Aspen, to solve the case.
After Andie Rose discovers illegal activity on the innâs
property that ties to the murder, the investigation shifts into high gear. As
she uncovers shocking secrets of those she thought she knew, someone is intent
on keeping her quiet at any cost.
Can the innâs resident ghost save her from impending harm
when it seems the ones closest to her pose the greatest
threat?
Read an Excerpt
âHey, Sister Alice. Good timing.â I wandered to the parlor
and stood in front of the fireplace.
âCanât say that thereâs such a thing as good timing when I
tell you why Iâm calling.â I groaned inwardly. It was going to be one of these
days, was it? When I didnât 1 say anything, she continued. âThey found a body
in Big Spirit Lake.â
âHoly wicked whiskey!â My mind spun furiously. âWhoâs
they?â
âPolice.â
âHm. Well, on the positive side of thingsâand I know this
wonât sound goodâbut at least it wasnât here at the inn this time. And that
someone found it before Aspen and I stumbled upon it when I took him there this
afternoon.â Iâd found a body at the inn last fall, bringing in the Halloween
season in an unexpected fashion.
âKeep in mind when you go this afternoon that the police
donât need your help. Stay out of their way.â
âIâm insulted.â
âStop pouting. You know itâs true. Weâre to keep our own
side of the street clean. Not stick your nose in where it doesnât belong.â
âI want to fire you as my sponsor.â
She snorted with amusement. âHave at it. Youâre assuming
you could find another one.â
Abut the Author: Rhonda is an avid
reader, writer, coffee and dark chocolate connoisseur, and certified life
coach. She has 10 independently published novels: The Inheritance, a
contemporary fiction novel; seven books in the Melanie Hogan Mysteries; and
Finding Abby and Abby's Redemption in the Whispering Pines Romantic Suspense
duology. She was awarded the 2022 Master of Literary Arts Award from the
Brighton Chamber.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish
Promotions. Ana Diamond will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to
a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the
tour.
Luke Daniels has
done his fair share of bad things. But when the FBI offers him a deal in
exchange for infiltrating the local Mafiaâs infamous Costa Crew, Luke has no
choice but to accept the challenge.
Beautiful, smart and tough, Sophia Costa wants out of the
Crew. Appointed boss by her brother after heâs sent to prison, she wants no
part in the murder, deceit and secrecy typical of Mafia life.
Just as things heat up between Luke and Sophia, a mysterious
hitman targets Sophia, and Lukeâs handler starts to wonder if Luke is up for
the task.
As the lovers face the possibility of losing everything in
order to be together, the line between loyalty and betrayal
blur.
Read an Excerpt
At the entrance, a burly guy with a pug nose and dressed in
a long black trench coat scanned the bar, like he was looking for someone. Kid
turned toward the other end of the bar, signaling to a guy wearing a black
fedora, who then promptly disappeared into the back room.
Pug Nose took notice of Kidâs intervention and barreled
toward him with gritted teeth. But before he could get his hands on Kid, Luke
elbowed him right in the center of his face. He fell back, clutching his bloody
nose, while Luke continued the onslaught until he sensed surrender. Then he
jumped off him while the others in the crowd lifted Pug Nose off the floor.
Blood ran down his face and soaked his shirt. The room fell quiet as the sound
of stilettos clicking on the floor became louder by the second.
Luke shook off the pain in his knuckles as he watched the
dark-haired beauty approach.
She stopped and stared at Pug Noseâs injuries, quickly
glanced at Luke, then back at Pug Nose. âTake this message back to your boss.
Weâre not afraid of you and if you come back, weâll kill you one by one.â She
nodded at her crew to take Pug Nose away, then turned to Luke.
A nervous tickle made him clear his throat as she stared up
at him with deep sapphire-colored eyes. He couldnât imagine what role she
played in this dirty game full of thugs and thieves.
âI have to personally thank you for stepping in for Kid.
Whatâs your name, Fighter?â she asked with a tiny smirk on her full red
lips.
âLuke Daniels. May I ask who you are?â
âMy name is Sophia Costa. Iâm the boss.â
About the Author: When Ana Diamond isn't
writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, sheâs at work by
day in the medical field. She writes romantic mystery novels with feisty strong
women and alluring men who canât resist them. Her books are fast paced,
entertaining and heartfelt all at once.
Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and
2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband,
two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats.
