Sunday Words of Encouragement May 24, 2015

Today was a full day at Church. We honored our high school and college graduates, remembered our service men and women and celebrated Pentecost. Both our Sunday School teacher and our Pastor spoke on Pentecost.

Our SS teacher noted that Pentecost actually means fiftieth day after Passover. However the modern church recognizes Pentecostal as ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’. The original Pentecost was acknowledged in Leviticus as the day to celebrate the first fruits of the harvest (Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest). Leviticus 23:15-23. The day was fifty days after the angel of death passed over the Israelites in Egypt (Passover) because the Lamb’s blood was sprinkled on their doors. In Leviticus the law was written on stone.

After the resurrection of Jesus, he returned to the disciples to teach them for forty days. He left them saying to “wait”, that he would send a helper. Ten days later the people gathered to celebrate the Shavuot, the Feast of Harvest. God used that gathering time to give the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was fifty days after the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for our sins. Jesus was the first fruit and this time the message and power was written on our hearts.

Peter went through a transformation as this was the birth of the church. Acts 2. The Power was given to speak of the mighty deeds of God (verse 11). Peter spoke out boldly telling the people what they needed to do: repent, get baptized and receive the Holy Spirit (verse 38). The first Pentecost was about works; the second Pentecost was about faith. Too many people (and churches) deny the power of the Spirit so that we are as Timothy said of the last days: people will be ... “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3-4:5 NIV.

Pastor’s sermon was titled: The Guidance of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have directions as we go through life. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;...” Isaiah 53:6 NIV. People often wander around lost because pride keeps them from asking for help. We have all learned that GPS is not always right and maps may be out of date. The best guide is a knowledgeable person. We need guidance daily! The guidance of the Spirit is for each person and specialized for each person.

Joshua told the people to follow the presence of God (the Ark) because “ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” Joshua 3:2-4. Ask God to guide you each day so that you will stay on the path He has for you.

I was going to post Holy Spirit Rain Down which we sang this morning. 

Then I found this song to post instead.

Welcome Holy Spirit.

A Verse for Today:
Psalm 32:8(NIV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Thank you Lord for sending Your Holy Spirit to guide me in my earthly walk. Thank you too that I find fresh insight the more I read my Bible and study Your Word.

Sharing Beyond Books #204 Comment Giveaway May 23, 2015

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Whew- another busy week. I have another major data project needed for State filing so that is taking extra time.  We had a nice dinner over at our daughter's house tonight.
I had one night this week without internet again so I went to bed early. That seems to have thrown off my sleeping so I am waking up in the middle of the night. I listen to my audio book but I'm not getting the sleep I need. I hope I can get back in sync tonight.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Most all of us are perfectly happy with our names but there were wonderful names shared. Three commenters chose Sara or Sarah and threes chose Elizabeth. Two chose Isabella and two chose flower names. The other names were fairly unique.

~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #203 comments is: #3 Miki who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices this week. Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #204 (One Question.)

Q1. Abby asks: Have you ever come across a song that you feel goes perfectly with a book/movie (must not already be on the soundtrack)??

A: This is a very hard question for me since I don't listen to music too much - except for praise and worship. I have heard some wonderful scores though --  I love the haunting Gael music ("Promentory" by Trevor Jones) from Last of the Mohicans and Enya's May it Be at the end of LOTR.  But a song I am sure would fit with some book - I just don't know which but maybe an Outlander title or a Poison Study title? - is My Immortal by Evanescence.

I know the question is to pick a song NOT ALREADY IN A MOVIE SOUNDTRACK
but I still liked this image. :-)
Image found at Consequence of Sound

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:
Q1. Abby asks: Have you ever come across a song that you feel goes perfectly with a book/movie (must not already be on the soundtrack)??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the  Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday May 30, 2015 at 5 PM  central.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 22, 2015

Oh - Thank goodness it's Friday!
This was another busy week at work with lots of daily projects. We keep plugging away at the files. Last week we had to get documents ready and scanned for annual audit and now we are back working on a massive report due to the State in early June.
Meanwhile storms knocked out our internet at home yesterday.
I hope my blog friends are staying safe as you prepare for summer (or winter for those on the far side).

TO ENTER:

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up to late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the May 15 Pick. There was only one automatic win again this week.  Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no titles blocked.
Becky gets The Darkroom

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from May 8 Pick:
Mariska gets a GC

Sue F gets The Last Two Bachelors

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

I wish we had a whirlwind of books instead of storms of damage.

Image found at Worldwind Books on Tumblr

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015
(I'll finish the list with authors on Saturday 5/2/15)

PAIRS:
Virginia Henley: The Dragon and the Jewel and Tempted
Jude Deveraux: The Invitation and Remembrance
Nora Roberts: The Heart of Devin MacKade and the Pride of Jared MacKade
SINGLES:
A Little Better Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce
World's Greatest Dad by Marie Ferrarella
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess
Skin Game by Ava Gray
Special Agent
Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spears
Dean in The Water by Stuart Woods - Cassette Tapes
Rally Fever
Jack with a Twist by Brenda Janowitz

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

PAIRS:
Dick Francis: A Jockey's Life and Proof (spine creases)
Catherine Lanigan: Tender Malice and Elusive Love (spine creases)
SINGLES:
Parent Trap Anthology, Dallas Schulze, Lisa Jackson, Kasey Michaels
Madison Avenue Marriage (Silhouette Desire #129) by Cassandra Bishop
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Ain't Myth-Behaving by Kate MacAlister
Death at Play by Nancy Gotter Gates
Where is He Now? by Jennifer Greene
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
Aphrodite's Secret by Julie Kenner
Virtually His by Gennita Low
Dead Even by Brad Metzger
Mommy Midwife by Cassie Miles
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks


New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

PAIRS:
Virginia Henley: The Pirate and the Pagan (spine creases) and The Falcon and the Flower
James Patterson: London Bridges and Roses are Red (both spine creases)
SINGLES:
Pale Kings and Princes by Robert Parker Audio Cassette Tapes
Hour Game by David Baldacci (spine creases)
If I Had You by Deborah Bedford
The Girl With the Golden Spurs by Ann Major
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You by Kasey Michaels
Dark Possession by Christine Feehan
Daisy's Back in Town by Rachel Gibson
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood
Paradise Bay by James Michael Pratt
The Last Two Bachelors by Debbie Macomber
Exclusive Anthology by Fiona Hood-Stewart, Sharon Kendrick and Jackie Braun
Duets Romantic Comedy: Lady and the Scamp by Candy Halliday & The Doctor Dilemma by Dianne Drake

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

PAIRS:
Lisa Gardner: Alone and Gone
Janet Evanovich: Eleven on Top and Twelve Sharp
Stuart Wood: L.A. Dead and Fresh Disasters
SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes



BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Intrepid Encounter by Rebecca Ashley
A Stranger's Wife by Maggie Osborne
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
At The Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Catherine Anderson PAIR: Seventh Heaven and Always in My Heart
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Touched by Fire by Kathleen O'Reilly
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
It All Began at Monte Carlo by Elizabeth Adler
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Mariah Stewart PAIR: Priceless and Brown-Eyed Girl
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Fulfillment by Barbara Delinsky
Trouble Becomes Her by Laura Van Wormer
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
Diana Palmer PAIR: Diamond Spur, Long Tall Texan
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
Illegal Possession by Kay Hooper


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Final Justice by Jasmine Cresswell
Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Mary Higgins Clark PAIR: Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Moonlight Becomes You (SC)
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
The Millionaire's Daughter by Sophie Weston
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.
Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon
The Darkroom by Minette Walters
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
McNally's Puzzle by Lawrence Sanders
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in five+ years I have posted 54 groups of 16 (864) books to find new homes! (as of February 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 818+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Book Review: Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey

This is a wonderfully evocative dual romance: a touching love story in 1942 London woven with the lives of a 2011 London couple.

Letters to the Lost

by Iona Grey

• File Size: 791 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (May 26, 2015)
• Sold by: Macmillan
• ASIN: B00P5RA580
• Genre: Romance
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
• 
  

Book Description
Publication Date: May 26, 2015
An accomplished novel from a talented writer, Letters to the Lost is a stunning, emotional love story. Iona Grey's prose is warm, evocative, and immediately engaging; her characters become so real you can't bear to let them go.
I promised to love you forever, in a time when I didn't know if I'd live to see the start of another week. Now it looks like forever is finally running out. I never stopped loving you. I tried, for the sake of my own sanity, but I never even got close, and I never stopped hoping either.
Late on a frozen February evening, a young woman is running through the streets of London. Having fled from her abusive boyfriend and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane where a small, clearly unlived in old house offers her best chance of shelter for the night. The next morning, a mysterious letter arrives and when she can't help but open it, she finds herself drawn inexorably into the story of two lovers from another time.
In London 1942, Stella meets Dan, a US airman, quite by accident, but there is no denying the impossible, unstoppable attraction that draws them together. Dan is a B-17 pilot flying his bomber into Europe from a British airbase; his odds of survival are one in five. In the midst of such uncertainty, the one thing they hold onto is the letters they write to each other. Fate is unkind and they are separated by decades and continents. In the present, Jess becomes determined to find out what happened to them. Her hope--inspired by a love so powerful it spans a lifetime--will lead her to find a startling redemption in her own life in this powerfully moving novel.

Review:
Jess escapes from her abusive boyfriend by running into the night. She eventually stumbles down a dark street and finds a deserted house where she hides until she hears his feet fade away. Having no where to go she sneaks into the house for shelter. The next morning she is pondering what to do when a letter is passed through the mail slot. It is clear that no one has lived in the house for quite a while and she is curious about the mail. Amidst all of the junk mail to 'Nancy' or Occupant comes the new letter addressed to 'Stella' and marked personal and confidential. Jess decides to check it out since it looks so important. She is surprised to find that the letter seeks a long lost loved one. As Jess continues to hide she finds a box of letters hidden in the bedroom. Reading them she finds herself mesmerized by the one sided tale of a love story between British Stella and American pilot, Dan.

Will works for an ancestry trace office and is looking for Nancy. He spots Stella one day but she claims no knowledge. Will perseveres and becomes friends with an elderly neighbor who tells him about Nancy and produces a key to the vacant house. When Will goes to inspect the place he discovers Jess almost dead. He gets her to the hospital and stays to see that she is alright. He is drawn to the frail girl and disappointed when she calls him “Dan” in a moment of delirium. When she awakens she explains about the letters. Together they begin a search for Stella in hoes that they can put her in touch with Dan before illness ends their chance to see each other one more time.

The story shifts scenes from 1942 to 2011 with glimpses of both sets of characters and their growing feelings. I like this technique of weaving two separate relationships. It is like a mystery unfolding or putting pieces of a puzzle together until the full picture is revealed.

Although there are some haunting similarities between Jess and Stella there are also major changes in the societies they have to cope in. Dan and Will are different in temperaments, one eager to enjoy life and the other moody. But when it comes to protecting a woman they have chosen they are quite similar. There is joy with anticipation and hope and shattering heartbreak with fear and despair. The characters are beautifully developed and the settings for the most part accurately portrayed. The writing is beautifully evocative and gave me a sense of being there.

I don’t always like ‘drama’ in my reading but in this book I was completely engaged by both the historic love story and the modern one. This is a debut novel and I certainly would be interested in more by Ms. Grey. I recommend this to readers who love a tender romance because here you get two, one with lovely history!

I am glad I selected this through NetGalley because it sounded interesting and it is beautiful. This will add to my NetGalley Challenge.

About the author:
IONA GREY has a degree in English Literature and Language from Manchester University, an obsession with history and an enduring fascination with the lives of women in the twentieth century. She lives in rural Cheshire with her husband and three daughters.

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Once Upon a SEAL (Lucky Thirteen Book 5) by S.M. Butler

This is a fast paced strong romance with a spike of danger.
Once Upon a SEAL (Lucky Thirteen Book 5)
by S.M. Butler

• File Size: 697 KB
• Print Length: 156 pages
• Publisher: Soaring Phoenix Press (May 19, 2015)
• ASIN: B00WROEW10

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating 4.0 of 5.0

This is reading very quickly.
I will be posting a tour review on 5/20.
Book Description
Publication Date: May 19, 2015
Maddie Benson has spent her entire life in Sugar Falls and has never ventured—nor wanted to venture—beyond her small town’s safe borders. But when her delivery job takes her to the doorstep of one very reclusive, former Navy SEAL, Sebastian McIntyre, her small town perceptions are challenged with every conversation they have. It’s not long before she’s losing herself—and her heart—to the mysterious man behind the door.
Bastian’s scars are deeper than the surface. They’re embedded into his soul, and he’s content to keep them buried. But the second Maddie ends up on his doorstep with her sparkling smile and her sunshine hair, his quiet new life shatters and she just might be able to excise the demons he’s tried hard to keep tucked away—if he lets her in.
When Bastian’s old life comes haunting them, he knows he should let her go. But the light she shines on his soul keeps the darkness within him at bay. Letting her go may take more strength than he has, and keeping her close could get her killed.

Review:
Maddie is a lively, energetic college student. She loves her small town life and fears going away to a four year college in a big city. She works at the local market and one day is asked to deliver groceries to a cabin in the woods. She passes the bags through the door but is curious about the brusque man behind the door.

Sebastian, aka Bastian, is a young former SEAL who was injured on his last mission. He moved to Sugar Falls to hid away from the world. His sister, Jenny, usually delivers his groceries but one day a beautiful, bouncy young lady startles him.  He is glad when she returns in spite of the fact that he slammed the door in her face that first delivery.

Maddie and Bastian talk through the door and slowly build a friendship. But each time she asks to see him he shuts her out and ends their conversation.

Bastian learns that he and the men of his former SEAL unit are being targeted for assassination. Not only is the killer going after the men but he is going after their families to cause the most hurt. One of Bastian’s mates sends a two person team to Sugar Falls to help protect Bastian and Jenny. Unaware of the danger, Maddie is left vulnerable to a killer.

I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and I liked the primary characters. Maddie is a truly sunny person who is easy to like. Bastian is frustrating with his insistence on hiding but his vulnerability and interest in Maddie are touching. Clearly there is room for him to grow and that is a strong part of the story. The glaring short fall was the failure to communicate the danger to Maddie. Also the ending was rather abrupt. Even so, I enjoyed the romance and the fact that the fairly blatant, steamy parts came at the end of the story.

I liked the easy writing and, in spite of some swearing, I enjoyed the overall story.  I do recommend this story to readers who like a sweetly building romance with a sexy ending.

I received this title through Barclay Publicity for an honest review during book tour.

On Sale in Print and Digital: May 19, 2015

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

 Add ONCE UPON A SEAL to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

(FYI - I happened upon Book 1 on Kindle - Check to see if it is still available for Free:
Killing Honor (Lucky Thirteen Book 1)

Meet the Military Men of the Lucky Thirteen Series in 
Once Upon a Seal by Suzan Butler!

Coming May 19^th is the fifth novel in the Lucky Thirteen series, ONCE UPON A SEAL from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Suzan Butler! Read how a small town girl starts to change her perceptions after conversations with a reclusive former Navy SEAL.

Check out Suzan’s recent post about summer reads on Fresh Fiction!

Author Bio: Suzan Butler writes adult contemporary romance and has a penchant for Dr. Pepper, ice hockey, and world domination. She lives in Texas under a not-so-secret identity with two monsters, writing naughty books and planning the next step in her evil plans into the twilight hours of the night because that's when it's quiet in the house. She loves to hear from readers.

Suzan also has a monthly newsletter she shares with her alter ego, New York Times and USA Today bestseller, S.M. Butler, who writes new adult romantic suspense and military romance. In the newsletter, you'll find information about new releases, updates on future books, contests, giveaways, get first peek at new covers, and find out where she'll be visiting through books signings and conventions throughout the year.

 Website | Newsletter | Facebook  | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Once Upon A Seal by Suzan Butler Excerpt #1
     Tommy’s Grocery was the only grocery store in Sugar Falls. We had a lot of older folks that lived out in the country, so I frequently ran out deliveries for them. But as I surveyed the contents of the delivery I had now, making sure I had them all, this wasn’t for one of the older couples, and I hadn’t recognized the name on the order either. Sebastian? It sounded like a younger guy. Why couldn’t a younger guy come get his own groceries?
     And it wasn’t a particularly large order either. Lots of fruits, vegetables, a package of razors. So I imagined he was a clean-shaven health nut. Not that I cared either way. I got paid no matter what. And honestly, even though it was hot outside, I still liked getting the fresh air and not being stuck in the store all day.
     The house wasn’t a rundown piece of crap like I expected, which was further evidence that it wasn’t an older man. The house was cute, gorgeous and had colorful flowers lining the front porch. Pretty walking stones framed the sides of the circular driveway. The grass was slightly overgrown, but mostly, the yard was well- landscaped. Someone spent hours on it regularly. This was not the work of a landscaper. This house was cared for with love, by someone who liked working with his hands.
     Which only made me more curious of the owner.
     I got out of my truck and grabbed the three bags from the passenger side. The heat beat down on me as I walked up. I rapped sharply on the door and waited. It was solid oak, with two rectangular window panes spanning half the height of the door. The decorative glass obscured a clear view of the inside, but I could see a vague shape of a man coming toward the entrance to the house.
     But the door didn’t open. A gruff voice barked, “Who is it?”
     “Maddie Benson. I have your delivery from Tommy’s.” As if for emphasis, I lifted one arm so he could see the shape of the bag through the decorative window.
     “Just a sec.” His form moved away. A minute or two passed as I waited for him to return. He came back, and the chain rattled as he unlocked it. I started forward when the door cracked open, but he didn’t let it open. “Leave it on the mat.”
     Slowly, I set the bags down. “Okay. Um... It’s twenty-five sixty.” I squinted my eyes to look through the glass, as if that would make it easier to see him.
     His hand snaked around the door, holding a twenty and a ten. The hand was large, fitting the massive shape I could make out on the other side of the door. “Keep the change.”
     I took the bills from him. “Thanks, um...” I glanced at the ticket in my hand, skimming over it quickly. “Mr. McIntyre.” I stopped. McIntyre? “You’re related to Jenny?”
     The door slammed shut in answer.
     I glared at the shut door. Wasn’t that just nice. Was this how he treated everyone or was I just special? I almost wanted to knock and tell him what an ---hole he was, but instead, I turned and headed back to my truck.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Follow the tour and you could win some awesome prizes!

Grand Prize: $25 Amazon or B&N gift card
Runner-up Prizes: Digital copies of any one (1) book by Suzan Butler in the Lucky Thirteen series (except Once Upon A Seal)

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