Rufus & Jack - Saturday Snapshots

I haven't taken any pictures lately, but I figured when all else fails, show pet photos! So here are a few pictures of our dog Rufus (white), along with our grand-dog Jack (black and white). FYI: Rufus is the boss. He's a mix of Maltese and Bichon Frise; Jack is a mix of Border Collie with a little Chow thrown in (we think!)

Rufus and the rhinoceros planter, on the lookout
for unauthorized cats or squirrels in the yard.

This window overlooks the street in front of our house.
We call it Doggie TV.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate 

for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. 

Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Retirement Can Be Murder - Teaser Tuesday & First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros

Combine a cozy mystery with Baby Boomers and you've got a winning mix as far as I'm concerned! I just finished reading Retirement Can Be Murder, and I had a great time getting to know the main character and her friends. The author has a terrific sense of humor, poking fun at the concerns that everyone faces as retirement age nears. I can sure relate! 

First Paragraph(s):
"The hardest years of a marriage are the ones following the wedding."
      Here's an amazing weight-loss tip for all the women in America: an out-of-body experience makes you look thinner. Forget about vertical vs. horizontal stripes. I'm telling you, an out-of-body occurrence does the trick. Plus, it can be quite a pleasant sensation to look down and see a movie starring...you. What's not to like?
      Of course, there's a down side to my weight-loss tip. Out-of-body experiences are triggered by a traumatic event, like the panicky phone call I'd just gotten from Jim, My Beloved Husband of 36 years, telling me he'd found his retirement coach, Davis Rhodes, dead at his kitchen table.

Teaser (from 5% on my Kindle):
I admit it's crazy to talk to my dogs all the time the way I do, but they're good listeners and I can trust them to keep a secret. They always agree with me, too.
(By the way, her English cocker spaniels are named Lucy and Ethel.) 

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 231 Pages
Amazon Link: Retirement Can Be Murder
Other Books by Susan Santangelo: Amazon Author Page

Synopsis:
      Retirement Can Be Murder is the first in the Baby Boomer mystery series featuring Carol Andrews and Her Beloved Husband Jim as they navigate a rocky road toward their golden years.
      Carol dreads Jim's upcoming retirement more than a root canal without Novocain. She can't imagine anything worse than an at-home husband with time on his hands, and nothing to fill it, except interfering with the day-to-day activities of the household and driving her crazy. Until Jim is suspected of murdering his retirement coach.

  

Share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you are reading. Here's the link: Bibliophile By The Sea

Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please! Here's the link: Should Be Reading

Rescue My Heart - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

Some of the most delightful books I've read lately have featured dogs in their plots, including RESCUE MY HEART by Jean C. Joachim. As you can guess from the cover, her story features an adorable pug. His name is Baxter, he's a rescue dog, and he plays an important part in this story. 

With New York City as the setting and a hunky, bicycle-riding veterinarian as the hero, this first book in the "Manhattan Dinner Club" series is a great read. Ms. Joachim's sense of humor adds an extra element, too. The insulting nicknames she comes up with for the veterinarian's ultra-skinny girlfriend will keep you chuckling throughout the book.  

Book Beginning:
It came at her suddenly, out of nowhere. Rory Sampson leapt out of the way of the speeding bike and onto the grass, yanking her pug, Baxter, with her.

Friday 56 (from 56% on my Kindle):
I wish I could put the pillow over my head, take it off, and have it be May, have Alfred well, and Miss Cardboard shipped off to Alaska. Time to face reality. Rory picked up the phone.
(FYI: Miss Cardboard is one of those insults I mentioned. *Giggle*)

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 206 Pages
Amazon Link: Rescue My Heart
Other Books by This Author: Jean Joachim Books

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Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings and Friday 56. 

   Click here to connect to other Book Beginnings posts  

   (sponsored by Rose City Reader)

   Find other Friday 56 bloggers here 
   (sponsored by Freda's Voice) 
                           

Seven Little Words - Teaser Tuesday

I'm enjoying SEVEN LITTLE WORDS, a romance by Margaret Sutherland. With its Australian setting, slightly different (to me!) Australian way of talking, likable characters, and two delightful dogs, I'm already charmed. A yellow lab and chihuahua add so much sweetness and character to the book!  

Teaser (from 11% on my Kindle):
This was ridiculous. He couldn't abandon her here. The place was deserted.

Genre: Sweet Romance
Length: 164 Pages
Amazon Link: Seven Little Words
Other Books by Margaret Sutherland

Synopsis from Amazon:

     After a painful break-up, budding romance writer Cathy Carruthers is avoiding men. So what happens when she meets successful Australian literary novelist, David Hillier, at his country writing workshop?
     Good-looking David’s a bachelor with problems. His writing’s blocked, his blind father’s in respite care and David has to care for his retired guide dog, Banquo. He has absolutely no time for a relationship.
     Meanwhile Cathy’s past partner hunts her down, her grandmother’s ill and Cathy is landed with Pixel, a tiny dog with the heart of a lion.
     David and Cathy can’t resist the powerful desire that at first overrides their problems. But pressures build and lead to conflict and friction. It felt like love. Was it just a passionate affair? Cathy’s a stronger woman now. Eventually she faces a choice. Must she send the man of her dreams away? Fortunately there’s a solution from a most unexpected quarter…

FYI: In case you haven't noticed, I like to feature small press, indie, and midlist authors on my blog. There are some wonderful writers out there who don't get the exposure afforded New York Times best-sellers, but their stories are equally as enjoyable.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)
• Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers
• Leave a comment on MizB's Teaser Tuesday post (HERE) and include your link so everyone can find your post.