Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Tell Me a Story … Wild Horse Springs


I’m delighted to welcome New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress to talk about her latest release, WILD HORSE SPRINGS, the fifth installment in Jodi’s Ransom Canyon series.

WILD HORSE SPRINGS by Jodi Thomas
◊ Series: Ransom Canyon, Book 5
◊ Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
◊ Genre: Western, Romance, Contemporary
◊ Publisher: HQN Books (January 24, 2017)
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 0373799276
◊ ISBN-13: 978-0373799275

In the heart of Ransom Canyon, sometimes the right match for a lonely soul is the one you least expect 

Dan Brigman may not lead the most exciting life, but he's proud of what he's achieved: he's a respected lawman, and he's raised a bright, talented daughter on his own. But finding a lone, sparkly blue boot in the middle of a deserted highway gets him thinking maybe the cowgirl who lost it is exactly the shake-up he needs. 
After losing her baby girl, Brandi Malone felt like her soul died along with her daughter. Now singing in small-town bars to make ends meet, she's fine being a drifter—until a handsome sheriff makes her believe that parking her boots under his bed is a better option. 
College grad Lauren Brigman has just struck out on her own in downtown Dallas when a troubling phone call leads her back home to Crossroads. Her hometown represents her family, friends and deepest hopes, but also her first love, Lucas Reyes. Will Lauren's homecoming be another heartbreak, or a second chance for her and Lucas?

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Jodi and she joins us to talk about always listening to stories. Welcome, Jodi.

Once I was listening to a woman’s story of being a part-time spy in the early computer game. My husband leaned close and whispered, “You know she’s lying to you, don’t you?” I nodded. I knew, but her story was so good I didn’t want to stop listening.

“Tell me a story.” Seems to be the cry of my lifetime. When I was a kid, I used to sit around with the adults listening to their stories. Hard times farming.  The war. Things they used to do for fun. I loved them all. My favorites were ones that started with Remember when…”

I had an Uncle Austin whose stories always grew. By the time he told one two or three times, I wouldn’t recognize it and I’d been there at the time. Like the time he caught a groom who fainted or how he broke horses in Norway after his ship was shot out from under him.

My father used to say if you shook Austin you wouldn’t get two cents’ worth of truth out of him, but I loved my uncle and his stories.

So, as I became a writer I started to notice that writers put their stories down in books and some people walk around telling theirs like they are the truth. Both live in an imaginary world; some just make a living at it.

When I was in grade school, I walked home every day. My mother would always ask what I saw on the journey, and I’d describe all kinds of things. Then, she’d smile and say, “Truth or Story?” When I grew up, I realized she didn’t care which it was. The important thing was that I knew the difference.

Most of the time my characters walk close beside me. They are in the back of my mind even when I’m living in the real world. Many times I cry with them or laugh with them but at the end of the day if the question comes, truth or story, I know the difference.

So why do they seem so real? Maybe because they are made up of parts, traits, worries and dreams of real people.

Step into WILD HORSE SPRINGS and meet my people. They might even remind you of yourself.  -  Jodi Thomas 

Jodi, thanks for joining us today and sharing this insight into your writing. I like knowing stories are a mixture of all these things.


Author Jodi Thomas
Now for those of you who aren’t familiar with Jodi, here’s a bit of background on her.

A fifth-generation Texan who taught family living, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Jodi traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable. 

The stories Jodi has committed to paper have earned her an impressive list of distinguished awards.

With a degree in Family Studies, Jodi is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics.  Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Jodi enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Jodi said, "When I was teaching classes full time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher, or nurse, or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place."

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for stopping by today during Jodi’s visit. Do you enjoy hearing stories from others? As a youngster, did you enjoy listening to the stories of the elders in your family? 

Monday, January 30, 2017

Close To Home by Lily Everett


I’m delighted today to be a part of the blog tour for CLOSE TO HOME by Lily Everett.

Have you ever fought to put the pieces of a broken relationship back together? In her latest Sanctuary Island novel, CLOSE TO HOME (St. Martin’s Paperbacks; February 7, 2017; $7.99; 978-1-250-07405-8), Lily Everett’s characters struggle to do just that. Lily tells a beautifully woven story of hope, second chances, and ultimately, true love.

CLOSE TO HOME
◊ By Lily Everett
◊ Price: $7.99
◊ Publication Date: 2/7/2017
◊ ISBN: 978-1-250-07405-8

The best journeys take us home….

When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own—never expecting to see her husband again.
Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married—she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?

CLOSE TO HOME is available at the following links:

PRAISE FOR LILY EVERETT

"I didn't read this book, I inhaled it. An incredible story of love, forgiveness, healing, and joy." — Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Sanctuary Island
"Well written and emotionally satisfying. I loved it! A rare find." — Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author, on Sanctuary Island
"A heartwarming, emotional, extremely romantic story that I couldn't read fast enough! Enjoy your trip to Sanctuary Island! I guarantee you won't want to leave." —Bella Andre, New York Times bestselling author of The Sullivan series, on Sanctuary Island


Here’s an excerpt from CLOSE TO HOME for your reading pleasure.


          Physical awareness flickered to life between them. Johnny felt the heavy beat of his blood, the sudden tightness in his jeans. Turning her hand under his, he stroked his thumb over the thin, tender skin at the in- side of her wrist where her pulse fluttered. She filled his mind, his entire consciousness. There was nothing but Tessa. 
          “You want more, honey? All you have to do is ask.” 
          She shivered, her eyes darkening as desire blew her pupils wide. Lips parting, Tessa stretched up on her toes over the horse’s back and Johnny didn’t care about the thousand-pound animal between them—he had to get his mouth on her, right now. 
          Spearing his hands into the short wisps of hair at the back of her neck, Johnny leaned in and kissed her. 
          The rest of the world fell away, leaving nothing behind but Tessa’s sugar-sweet mouth, the high, surprised noises she made in the back of her throat, the clutch of her fingers in the collar of his jacket as she pulled him closer. He hadn’t kissed her since that first day. 
          He hadn’t wanted to push her, or to make her think all he was interested in was sex. 
          That was a mistake. He should have been kissing her every day. Every minute. 
          Clover took a step forward, jolting them out of their embrace. The horse looked curiously over his shoulder as Tessa started to laugh. It was the laugh Johnny had seen for the first time through the bakery window, full throated and joyous, with Tessa’s head thrown back in abandon. 
          Overcome with the need to seize this moment, Johnny grabbed the currycomb and threw it in the bucket before rounding the horse to snag his wife by the hand. Tessa looked up at him, breath coming in fast pants and eyes glazed, pliantly following where he led. It was all Johnny could do not to take her down to the sawdust-covered floor and hope Clover was smart enough not to step on them. 
          No. Tessa was untouched. She’d been waiting for this for a long time—and her first time wasn’t going to be a literal roll in the hay. But that didn’t mean either of them could stand to wait until they found a bed. 
          He reached for enough patience to get out of the stall and latch the door behind them. Dumping the bucket of grooming tools by the stall door, Johnny tugged Tessa by the wrist down the barn corridor to an empty stall he’d noticed earlier. It was unoccupied, completely clear of hay except for a few pieces strewn here and there, and Johnny backed Tessa into it for a little privacy. She went willingly enough, although he could see her brain starting to come back online, awareness of what they were doing starting to show in her eyes. 
          If he were a good man, he’d back off and let the sexual tension clear from the air between them. Tessa, who’d had so few choices in her life, deserved to make a real choice about this, one not clouded by overwhelming sensations. Johnny was at least a good enough man to vow not to take her here and now. He was relieved to find that he still had limits. 
          But that didn’t mean he could stop himself from providing Tessa with a damn good argument for why she should choose him. 
          Why she should choose them. 
          One smooth step forward had Tessa pressed up against the rough wood of the wall, his hand coming up to cup the back of her head and keep her from hurting herself. He never wanted her to feel a moment’s pain, not if he could help it. 
          A soft smile pulled at her mouth. She turned her head far enough to nuzzle his arm, her gaze steady on his even as her cheeks flushed deep pink. She was irresistible. Johnny dipped his head, sipping kisses from her lips, small and sweet and playful to make her sigh. Her neck stretched, so vulnerably naked with- out the covering of her long, brown hair. The fingers of his free hand had to pet down the pale, slender length of it. 
          Tessa sighed into his lips, a breath with a hint of moan underneath—enough to vibrate through her throat against the sensitive tips of his fingers and reverberate through Johnny’s own chest. Hunger throbbed and ached between his legs, heavily undeniable, but he ignored it for the moment. This was about Tessa. Tessa’s pleasure, Tessa’s awakening, Tessa’s beautiful, beloved, familiar-but-new body. 
          With a last swipe of his tongue across her plush lower lip, Johnny dragged his mouth from hers to nip his way down her throat to the juncture of her shoulder. He paused there to suckle at the soft skin, pulling up a mark that sent a heated pulse of possession through him. Satisfaction rumbled in his chest as he trailed his hand from her neck to follow the path of his mouth lower, and then lower still. She shuddered when he reached the full roundness of her breasts. 
          Hungry for more but unwilling to expose her in this semipublic place, Johnny’s fingers shaped her through her thin sweater. He loved the way she shivered and peaked up, tightening into a bud he could feel . . . and needed to taste. 
          Johnny contented himself with wetting the fabric over the hard tip of her breasts, rubbing the knit weave of her sweater over the sensitive skin before enclosing her in warmth and pulling strongly enough to make her moan. High-pitched and shocked, the sounds Tessa let loose made Johnny groan with the need to restrain himself. 
          He knelt on the hard-packed dirt floor in front of her, forehead pressed to her softly rounded belly as he panted and worked to get control of the passion that wanted to run away with them both. 
          “Don’t stop,” she begged in a heated whisper he felt in every fiber of his body. 
          Johnny tilted his head up to meet her stare. Red- cheeked and wide-eyed, Tessa stared down at him. She looked nervous, excited, turned on—but she didn’t look as if she were too overwhelmed to make a real choice. Her eyes were clear. 
          He still didn’t want her first time to be in a barn. She deserved better than that. But there were many firsts for Tessa to enjoy, and Johnny could give her one right here.

Copyright © 2017 by Lily Everett and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.


Author Lily Everett
LILY EVERETT is the author of the Sanctuary Island series for St. Martin's Press. 

She grew up in a small town in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains and now resides in Austin, Texas, where she writes full-time.

SMP ROMANCE SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Twitter: @SMPRomance
Facebook: @SMPRomance
http://smpromance.com/

Thanks for stopping by today. What do you enjoy most about books that feature second chances in the plot?

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Revelations {+ Giveaway}


It’s a pleasure to be participating in the REVELATIONS by T. Marie Alexander blitz with Xpresso Book Tours.

As part of the blitz, the author is sharing an excerpt from her book and you can enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Please see the end of the post for more giveaway details.

Revelations
T. Marie Alexander
Publication date: January 27th, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Have you ever craved something so badly that all reason was just an excuse getting in your way?

Have you needed something so desperately that you didn’t care how you got it or who you hurt in the process?

I have—and not that long ago.

Acceptance.

Acceptance… from family and friends…

Acceptance of the person I am inside and not outright rejection.

It didn’t come easily for me, and now I believe the world needs to know just how ruthless life can be. How that overwhelming yearning for acceptance can mold you into someone you don’t recognize when you look in the mirror. I’m through hiding behind one façade after another—it’s time for the world to meet the real me.
~Antoinette Justice


I turn the music off, turn to face him, and ask, “What is it?”
“I don’t know watcha talkin’ ’bout,” is all he says. Now, I could leave it alone and let him talk to me when he wants, but there’s no fun in that.
“Come on, Brad. Spit it out.”
He doesn’t spit it out, just keeps driving us wherever we’re going. When we leave town, I give up on talking to him. He’s impossible when he gets like this. It almost makes me wish I hadn’t started talking to him. Okay, so that’s a pretty terrible lie. My life got immensely better once I allowed Brad to take over, but when he gets like this, it is frustrating. I know what he’s upset about. Just want the thunder to be over so we can get back to the sunshine and rainbows.
After two hours of driving in silence, we finally make a stop at a funky looking shop with a day glow sign that reads, “I tell your past, present, future.” I glance over to Brad, a little worried. He brought me to a freakin’ fortuneteller. I hope he knows they are a bunch of con artists.
“I use ta come here for advice.” He finally says something to me. It’s not what I want to hear. This is ridiculous. But I don’t tell him that. “I think ya need some advice ’bout life.”
“Not from a con artist.”
“She’s not a con artist. Madame Mercy is different. She sees into ya soul. And she doesn’t charge.”
Ha!
Madame Mercy? There’s no way I will ever talk to someone named Madame Mercy. She sounds like the Wicked Witch of the West. And a fortuneteller who doesn’t charge has to be up to something. She’s probably worse than the ones that do. Either way, there is no way I’m stepping foot into this overly hippied out acid house. I sit back in the seat, which I swear has other life forms growing on it, and cross my arms. If he wants me to go inside that whacko’s shop, he’s gonna have to drag me inside, kicking and screaming. I’m not goin’.
“Take me home,” I demand.
“No, Anna. Ya goin’. I’m tired of watchin’ ya destroy ya life. You’re better than dat.”
“This isn’t ’bout life. This is about Kaz and everyone else.”
“If by everyone else, you mean Nick.”
My face heats up at the mention of Nick. I shouldn’t be attracted to a married man. I know the consequences of wanting a married man. Besides the obvious, he’s a teacher and I’m only fifteen, being attracted to him will only derail my progress with Kaz. What I don’t understand is why Brad cares so much. He’s been getting on to me nonstop about older guys.
Women are allowed to be attracted to older guys. Where is it written that is some taboo thing? I know I can’t do anything, not that I want to. I’m not ready for that. But there is nothing wrong with being friends. I want friends. I need friends. And they give me that.
“There’s something ’bout ya that makes a good guy give into temptation.”

Author T. Marie Alexander
T. Marie Alexander lives in Arkansas. She can be found sitting at a computer on any given day, usually writing or looking up something to do with fashion. When she is not doing either of those things, she’s reading on her Kindle or binge watching Roswell on Netflix time and time again.

She shares her apartment with her husband and some annoying ghost that like to take her belongings. Her dream of becoming an author started around the age of seven when she would glue small pages together and write about her favorite thing at the time, boy band crushes. T. Marie writes Young Adult Science Fiction and Paranormal Fiction.

For more on the author and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

This blitz-wide giveaway is for a $25 Amazon Gift Card. To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you find yourself reading more or less Young Adult books these days?


Friday, January 27, 2017

Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae


PLAID AND PLAGIARISM by Molly MacRae
◊ Series: Highland Bookshop Mysteries, Book 1
◊ Hardcover: 288 pages
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Cozy
◊ Publisher: Pegasus Books (December 6, 2016)
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 1681772566
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1681772561

SYNOPSIS:

A murder in a garden turns the four new owners of Yon Bonnie Books into amateur detectives, in a captivating new cozy mystery novel from Molly MacRae.

          Set in the weeks before the annual Inversgail Literature Festival in Scotland, Plaid and Plagiarism begins on a morning shortly after the four women take possession of their bookshop in the Highlands. Unfortunately, the move to Inversgail hasn’t gone as smoothly as they’d planned.
First, Janet Marsh is told she’ll have to wait before moving into her new home. Then she finds out the house has been vandalized. Again. The chief suspect? Una Graham, an advice columnist for the local paper ― who’s trying to make a name for herself as an investigative reporter. When Janet and her business partners go looking for clues at the house, they find a body―it’s Una, in the garden shed, with a sickle in her neck. Janet never did like that garden shed.
Who wanted Una dead? After discovering a cache of nasty letters, Janet and her friends are beginning to wonder who didn’t, including Janet’s ex-husband. Surrounded by a cast of characters with whom readers will fall in love, the new owners of Yon Bonnie Books set out to solve Una’s murder so they can get back to business.
A delightful and deadly new novel about recognizing one’s strengths and weakness―while also trying to open a new bookshop―Plaid and Plagiarism is the start of an entertaining new Scottish mystery series.

Author Molly MacRae has created a charming setting in the Scottish Highlands for her latest release, PLAID AND PLAGIARISM, the first installment in her Highland Bookshop Mysteries Series.

The author draws you in with rich characters that are quite likable, realistic and well-developed. She incorporates their bonds of friendship with its ups and downs to enhance the story.

Moving at a good pace, the story comes to life through the author’s vivid descriptions and eye for details. She places the reader in the center of the action with the setting acting as a character in itself. The author blends the four lives of the protagonists with their journey to open a bookstore and the murder mystery.

With some twists and turns along the way, this delightful story will entertain and leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment. It’s a fun start to what promises to be a captivating new mystery series.

Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae, Highland Bookshop Mysteries (Book #1), Pegasus Books, @2016, ISBN: 978-1681772561, Hardcover, 288 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks for stopping by today. What do you enjoy most about books set in the Scottish Highlands?

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride


WALK INTO SILENCE by Susan McBride
◊ Series: Jo Larsen Novel, Book #1
◊ Narrator: Christina Traister
MP3 CD
◊ Listening Length: 10 hours and 21 minutes
◊ Program Type: Audiobook
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
◊ Version: Unabridged
◊ Publisher: Brilliance Audio
◊ Release Date: December 1, 2016
◊ Language: English
◊ ASIN: BO1JKD5KOI
ISBN-10: 1522690034
ISBN-13: 978-1522690030

SYNOPSIS:

A woman vanishes from a Texas town. Did she simply run off, or is something darker at play?

When Patrick Dielman shows up at Detective Jo Larsen's desk insisting that his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo wonders if it's a case of a bored housewife running away.
But as she digs deeper into Jenny's life, Jo learns that Dielman keeps a stranglehold on the family finances, down to the last nickel, and that Jenny's first marriage dissolved following the death of her young son. By all accounts - including her doctor's - she never recovered from the loss. Between a controlling husband, a tragic past, and a callous ex-husband, Jo can't be sure if she should suspect foul play or accept that the woman may have wanted to disappear.
For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.

Author Susan McBride has created a protagonist that will stay with you long after the story ends and a tale that will have you shaking your head in wonder.

Narrator Christina Traister does an excellent job bringing these unique characters to life. Her interruption of the emotions throughout the story adds depth to this thriller. Her pitch and volume add to the heart-pounding events.

The author quickly draws you in with this fast-paced mystery. The twists, turns, and surprises along the way will keep you shrouded in doubt until the end.

The characters are realistic and well-developed. Sharing the elements of one’s character’s emotional state in layers enhances the story. Just when you think you have it figured out, a new development is revealed. Blending in the protagonist’s personal issues makes for a well-balanced story.

WALK INTO SILENCE is a captivating story filled with suspense and intrigue with a touch of romance. It’s a mesmerizing beginning to a fascinating new series with characters you’ll want to know more about.

Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride, Jo Larsen Novel (Book #1), Narrated by Christina Traister, Brilliance Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1522690030, Unabridged, MP3 CD, Run Time: 10 Hours and 21 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing up until the last minute? Do you enjoy plots where authors have you going back and forth about who you think is the villain and who is the victim?

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

A Venture of the Heart {+ Giveaway}


A Venture of the Heart
Amelia Judd
(Silver Bay, #1)
Publication date: January 24th, 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance 


LOVE IS A RISKY VENTURE IN AMELIA JUDD’S AWARD-WINNING NEW ROMANCE

“Hello, Pax. It’s good to see you again.”And with those frigid words, karma kicked his ass and blew his dreams into a million tiny fragments.

       Paxton Bennett walked away from a privileged upbringing to devote his life to La Vida de Ensueño, the socially responsible luxury resort he manages in Costa Rica. No way will Pax let a hotel chain swallow up La Vida and turn it into another lifeless clone. All he needs is a loan so he can match a buy-out offer. Unfortunately, every damn bank keeps saying no. He has one last hope–an on-site visit from a loan officer that he’s sure he can impress…
       Banker Sage Somerset doesn’t want to see Pax Bennett across a busy coffee shop, let alone spend a week at a tropical resort with him. After their cringe-worthy last encounter, just hearing his name makes her blush or curse. Plus, there are snakes in Costa Rica. A lot of snakes! Determined to remain professional on her unwelcome assignment, Sage hopes she can survive a week in Pax’s world…
      But a quirky staff, meddlesome family, and the night-time visit of a tiny green gecko soon threaten to turn business into pleasure. Will Pax and Sage fight their troublesome chemistry? Or will they take a chance on the biggest venture of all–each other?





Award-winning author Amelia Judd writes fun and flirty contemporary romance. She loves to entertain her readers with memorable characters and fast-paced plots that blend humor, heart, and heat.
 After receiving a degree in international affairs, Amelia lived and studied in Belgium for over three years. During her time in Europe, she traveled extensively, earned a master’s degree, and fell in love with writing contemporary romance.

Amelia now lives in the Midwest with her sports-loving husband, two active kids, and a lovable dog that insists on staying by her side day and night. When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with family, hanging out with friends, chauffeuring her kiddos around town, or planning her family’s next getaway.

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Monday, January 23, 2017

Finding Help with Mesothelioma


Virgil Anderson
While we primary discuss books or book-related themes here at Thoughts in Progress, helping one another and others is also a high priority. We can sometimes help others by gaining knowledge.

I’d like to introduce you to Virgil Anderson who I ‘met’ recently through an email. Virgil has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and today I want to share his story with you so that others may be helped.

Virgil was born and raised in Williamson, WV.  His father, a coal miner, passed when Virgil was 8 years old. Virgil worked in demolition work and excavating since high school. This required the physical tear out, and hands-on removal of asbestos containing insulation in walls, ceiling, attics and heating and cooling systems.

To remove the asbestos required saws and sledge hammers all of which sent the asbestos fibers flying into the air. Unfortunately for Virgil, the material had to not only be freed from its location but also picked up and carried to the disposal area.

Once asbestos is disturbed it can stay in the air for 5 days. On some occasions, there was a haze of dust and debris that you could actually taste in your mouth. He also came in contact with asbestos while working on his family’s farm.

Virgil was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. When he was diagnosed with mesothelioma he needed immediate medical attention. He found a few websites on the internet that are supposed to help people with mesothelioma cancer but nobody got back to him.
 
Then he found Mesothelioma.net. Even though he contacted them on a Sunday one of their patient advocates gave him a call back within minutes. They gave him a great deal of helpful information on doctors and resources available to him.

As a result of their website, he is now being treated at the national cancer institute and the patient advocates have even provided him with financial assistance so he could afford a place to live during his chemotherapy.

Virgil feels that if he had not reached out to this website, he would likely be homeless and more importantly in Hospice waiting to die. Virgil noted that these people gave him his only chance at survival.

You can learn more about mesothelioma, treatments, and resources at https://mesothelioma.net/.

Here is an explanation of mesothelioma taken from the website, 
          “Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that’s most often caused by asbestos exposure. It usually forms in the lungs of those who have been exposed to this deadly toxin, but sometimes occurs in the abdominal area or the area around the heart. There are a number of therapies available that can help prolong survival and minimize symptoms and discomfort, but in most cases the cancer is too aggressive and too advanced at the time of diagnosis to be cured.
          This disease specifically impacts a thin membrane that protects the lungs, heart and organs within the abdominal cavity and enables them to function properly. This is called the mesothelium and the majority of cases of this type of cancer affect the pleura, the mesothelium that lines the lungs.
          Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma of all types in the United States every year. In most cases, these victims’ exposure took place on the job and the cause of the illness can be traced to an unsafe workplace.”

I’m not familiar with this website and its activities, but from Virgil story, I believe it would be a great help to those facing this terrible disease. If you know someone facing this, please pass along this information to them.

Thanks for stopping by today. Are you familiar with mesothelioma? Do you think enough is being done to information people about treatment and resources?

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Free Book ... When No One Was Looking


No matter how long your TBR list is or how high your TBR stack gets, isn’t it always exciting to add one more book?

Today I want to tell you about a book you can get that is FREE to read with no timely obligation. No formal review is required by the author who just wants to get the word out about her book. (But remember, reviews are always very helpful to authors.)

WHEN NO ONE WAS LOOKING - Project Mnemosyne by Kim Frauli is a family friendly (clean - no language or sex) story that encourages good values and doing the right thing. 

Here’s a brief synopsis of the book:

          After terrorist attacks reshaped the world in which she lived, an orphaned Julianna Brenner was taken to live in the Scholars Compound. There, she and her best friend Declan work on medical advancements to benefit the world outside. Everything they do is dictated by the rules of the New Regime.
When Guardian Costma, the leader of the New Regime, summons them to assign a new project, Julianna has serious objections to the nature of the project. With Declan’s help, she devises a plan to get them out of the Scholars Compound and live a life of their own making.
However, they are blindly entering a world about which they know very little, and Guardian Costma will not let them go without a chase. Will they be able to find freedom they seek? Are their family members still out there waiting for their return? Or will the truths they learn be too much to handle?

Kim Frauli lives on a farm in rural Illinois with her husband, three children, and a menagerie of animals. She spent several years in marketing and communications for non-profit organizations, including serving as editor-in-chief of a hospital’s health magazine.

Kim took a break from full-time work to focus on family and volunteer work and became involved in education. She has served as a PTO president, board of education member, reading tutor and youth sports coach, in addition to chairing various events. She is currently working on the second book of this trilogy.

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