Since many of us are celebrating Easter (and the end of LENT!!!), I thought it was appropriate to reflect on ways to make the world a better place, one small step at a time...
Seven easy (and free) random acts of kindness
Smile at a stranger (um, be careful that he/she doesn't think you're flirting...unless you are, of course) Grab an extra shopping cart for someone (it's always fun to see the surprise on someone's face when you save them those extra few steps, especially if they are elderly)
Unload someone's groceries for them (pregnant mom, elderly person, handicapped person)
Share a coupon
Hold a door open
Offer a steadying arm/hand to someone struggling up a step or so Let someone else go first
***********************
Share with us in the comments the little things you do to brighten a stranger's day...
As always, thanks to Long and Short Reviews for this fun theme...please visit them for a list of everyone who is participating (and check back throughout the day, because more names get added)
In 1997, Jeffyne Telson founded RESQCATS, Inc, as a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, care and adoption of stray and abandoned cats and kittens.
In the ensuing 20 years, with the help of a small group of dedicated volunteers, Jeffyne has grown RESQCATS
well beyond her dreams, into a highly respected rescue organization
that has placed more than 2800 cats and kittens with qualified families
and individuals.
And now, she has written a book about her journey of creating a cat
rescue, the challenges and opportunities she has faced, and most
important of all, the valuable life lessons the cats and kittens have
taught her.
Excerpt:
Tattoo, My First Cat
As
a little girl, I grew up with outdoor cats that were never allowed in the
house. Perhaps that was what most people did with their animals back then or
maybe my mother just did not want pets in the house. It was not until I moved
out that Mother allowed our family cats to be indoors. I have no idea what
changed her mind about having the cats come inside. Maybe she suffered empty
nest syndrome and needed the presence of another living being besides my father
in the house. Or perhaps by the time I left for college, people were becoming
more educated about the dangers to pets left outdoors. Since then, our cats
have been indoor cats.
My
parents worked hard at making sure that I got an education. Their goal was to
make me fully prepared for life and that meant I would attend college and
obtain a degree.
My
father paid his way through college, working three jobs while raising a family.
My mother never went to college. When given the choice of having a shiny new
car or going to a university, Mother chose the car. It was a decision that she
regretted throughout her life. She attended business school and was employed as
a part-time secretary. Her main priority was motherhood. Working reduced hours
meant that she had to go to work after I left for school, complete the job and
arrive home before I returned in the afternoon. Mother and Daddy worked
diligently to ensure that my brother and I had everything we needed and almost
all we desired. However, as with many middle-class families, money was always
tight. They felt that a college education would insure that my financial future
would not be as difficult as theirs had been.
I
graduated from TexasTechUniversity in Lubbock, Texas in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic
Design. When I chose my college major, my parents were baffled. While both had
always been supportive of my artistic talents, they did not quite understand
what a graphic designer was or what one did with such a degree. So they encouraged
me to get a teaching certificate in art. My mother felt that a teaching
certificate always gives a woman something to fall back on after she has raised
her family and needed to return to work.
In
my best interest, my folks had my future mapped out in full detail. The plan
was to get a college degree, find a good job, stay with the same company for
years and climb the corporate ladder.
It
was a great plan until I got married, bought a house with a white picket fence
and had children. Staying true to the course meant mandatory time off to raise
my kids. Once the children were old enough, I had the option of returning to
work if needed. At this point, the teaching certificate came into play.
Maybe
this was how it was for women back in the 1950s. Perhaps that is what my mother
could have done if she had gone to college instead of opting for that shiny new
car. Regardless, their predetermined plan was not my plan!
My
first job out of college was at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas. The job description included fashion layout for
newspapers nationwide and direct mail design. I also did freelance package
design for Neiman’s epicure shop to make extra money. Designing cookie tins,
labels for thirty-five different flavors of expensive gourmet popcorn and packaging
for a variety of other epicurean delights was most enjoyable. The freelance
projects and the creativity they inspired were more pleasurable than my
salaried job. Specifying type and fitting fashion drawings into newspaper
layouts for advertising was not what I envisioned myself doing forever. I
desired a career that would be more graphic design oriented. So I set out to
find another job.
After
two interviews, Susan Crane, a company that designed gift wrap for national
department stores, hired me. The job seemed more suited to my talents and the
salary was even better.
I
left Neiman Marcus on good terms. The art director assured me that there would
be opportunities to continue to do freelance package design for them. I was
happy to continue having that creative avenue available.
My
folks did not understand why I would leave a job after only a year. It was
obvious to all of us that I had already found flaws in their plan. Our
conversations were dominated by the fact that I did not have a teaching certificate
on which to fall back.
Within
a year of leaving college, I began my second job. My father felt this quick
jump did not represent a good reputation in the working world. As my parents,
they had always realized my free-spirited nature. Now I was proof in the
making.
My
second interview at Susan Crane was generally an introduction to the other
employees. It was then that the new boss introduced me to the designer I was to
replace. The proposed schedule was for me to start in two weeks, allowing me to
give the proper notice to Neiman Marcus.
The
exiting designer was pleasant and incredibly excited about his upcoming job
opportunity with a large advertising agency in New York City.However,
he had a major dilemma. Her name was Tattoo. She was his cat. I do not recall
why Tattoo could not go to New York
with him. All I remember is that he begged me to take her.
So
not only did I have a new job, I got a cat, too! Tattoo
was two years old when we began our life together. She was an average-sized cat
with short, white fur decorated with a multitude of various-sized gray spots.
The name, Tattoo, seemed perfectly suited for my new spotted girl, so I kept
it. Glistening yellow-green peridot gems best describe her gorgeous eyes.
Tattoo was friendly and affectionate, as well as curious and confident; it took
less than a day for her to adjust to my apartment. At this point, I had been on my own for a year. I was single with
my career ahead of me and entirely capable of taking care of myself
financially. I owned my own car and rented a cozy, one-bedroom apartment. But
it was lonely sometimes and Tattoo was great company when I was home.
Our
weekday morning routine was always the same. Tattoo perched herself on the
bathroom counter as I got ready for work. Watching me put on make-up was her
favorite early morning activity. She gazed with curiosity as I applied blush
and eye shadow followed by liner and mascara. After all, this was Dallas! And Dallas
women wore make-up and dressed in the latest high fashion.
On
an occasional morning, just for fun, I put blush on Tattoo’s cheeks and eye
shadow above her lids. When my mother visited, she teased me, “Looks like
Tattoo has been in the blush and blue eye shadow again.” Yes, admittedly, that
was back in the days when blue eye shadow was in style!
Tattoo’s favorite toys were the small make-up
brushes. The last thing I did before leaving for work was to safely tuck them
into the drawer, ensuring there was no chance that she could swallow them while
I was away.
Tattoo
must have missed me during my long days at work. Travelling time in the morning
and evening was an hour each way…if traffic flowed well. Theoretically, I left
at seven a.m. for an eight o’clock
start time. The job was from eight to five, so I could be home by six p.m.
That
rarely happened, however. After all, I was single! So after five o’clock, my responsibilities were purely social. There were
aerobic classes to attend and guys to scope out at the fitness center, although
I can tell you my experiences with any jocks at the gym were nothing to get
excited about. The athletes were more about themselves, how much weight they
could hoist above their heads and how many females they could conquer.
I remember a good-looking guy I met while
running on the track. He was quite flirtatious, but seemed nice, so I accepted
his offer of a date.
Our
rendezvous turned out to be disastrous, at least in my view. Unexpectedly, from
the moment I got into his car, he came onto me much too quickly. His uninvited
advances continued throughout the entire evening and intensified upon our
return to my apartment. At that point, throwing him out was my best move and
that is exactly what I did!
He
called the next day to apologize for moving so “fast” while vaguely admitting that
he sensed my displeasure. I explained, without mincing any words, that I do not
move that rapidly, especially on a first date. And you know what he said?
“Well, I move fast because I'm a sprinter!” I replied, “Well, I’m a slow, long
distance runner.” Then I hung up the phone. Needless to say, that was our one
and only date!
Other
nights were all about “happy hour.” Many times, “happy” lasted more than just
an hour. I often went with coworkers or met friends after work and cruised the
most popular bars for singles. Half-price drinks and free snacks were more than
enough for dinner. When the disco music started, we danced the night away…the
whole night! I still wonder how I managed to leave the bars at two in the
morning and be at work by eight a.m.
(Of course, there were times I did not make it exactly at eight!)
Sweet
Tattoo met me at the apartment door every evening, regardless of what time I
got home. Upon hearing the turn of the key in the lock, she would make it to
the door by the time I crossed the threshold. I developed the habit of
inserting my foot just beyond the cracked door to gently force her back inside
and entered carefully.
The
evening, or whatever was left of it, was spent with Tattoo under my feet or by
my side.
I
should have realized that the days were lonely for her. Many times, boredom
motivated Tattoo to unroll the toilet paper and decorate the entire apartment.
Sometimes the delicate lace pillows on the bed appeared to have been tackled
and kicked like a football into the living room and kitchen. More than once,
she had discovered the loose lid on the Q-tips container and the swabs inside
had mysteriously disappeared. I often wondered what she did with all of them.
Years later, when I moved, I found at least a hundred under my couch!
Tattoo
was always there to greet me and I could count on her to welcome me home with
open paws…that is, all but once!
I
left work, stopped by the deli to pick up dinner and got to my apartment around
six p.m. The plan was for a quiet evening on the couch with my
cat and a good movie.
However,
that night was different. When I opened the door to enter my apartment, I
inserted my foot as customary, but there was no Tattoo to block. The apartment
was eerily quiet. There was not a mew or a sign of life. I began a hysterical
search. I looked under the bed, which always seems to be the first place people
look for missing cats! Why is that?
The
wardrobe closet was closed, but I inspected inside anyway. The bathroom shower
was empty and so were the adjacent cabinets.
I
hurried into the kitchen, running towards the pantry. Upon opening the
cupboard, Tattoo’s gigantic, yellow-green eyes stared back at me through the
dark.
“Tattoo,”
I shrieked! “Have you been in there all day?!" I think she nodded. I felt
horrible, "Oh no, I’m so sorry!”
My
poor kitty had been locked in the pantry for eleven hours! What could she have
done in there all that time?
I
will tell you what she did. Tattoo managed to open the Crisco shortening and
break a bottle of garlic salt. Thank goodness she was not hurt. Broken glass
from the container covered the floor, but there was no sign of any blood. All
four paws, however, were coated in Crisco and garlic salt. Her feet were a
mess.
She
jumped out and quickly trotted across the floor to her litter box. She left a
trail of gooey shortening and stinky garlic along the way. My idea of a quiet
night, dinner and movie were replaced with cleaning the pads of her feet,
between her toes…and my carpet!
I
felt so guilty about the incident. After all, it was my fault! The only comfort
was in the fact that it had been a day when I returned home directly from work.
I cannot imagine what the pantry would have looked like if I had gone dancing
all night!
I
spent many weekends creating freelance designs for Neiman’s. Today, graphic
designers have computer programs that can generate and alter graphics with the
push of a key. But back in my day, design work was created at the drawing board
or, in my situation, on the kitchen table. Transparent vellum paper enabled me
to perfect designs by using overlays. Color changes were not made by a right or
left click on the keypad mouse. We used color pens! Thin-tipped markers were
for fine outlines and wide tips shaded large areas. I will boast here that I
owned a marker in every imaginable color!
My
little buddy was always there to help. Tattoo managed to find a spot on the
kitchen table where I worked. She removed markers from their container and
tossed them around like a soccer ball. Loose pen caps catapulted into the air
with a quick flip of her paw. She watched them fall to the floor. Then she
pounced! She chased and batted the caps throughout the apartment.
Needless
to say, several made their way under the couch with the lost Q-tips, a treasure
that I found much later! The expensive markers that had lost their lids during
her escapade could only be salvaged by wrapping them in plastic wrap. When
Tattoo tired from hunting marker caps, she returned to the table to sprawl out
on top of my carefully designed layout.
I
have no explanation for what came over me one day when working on a design for
a butter cookie tin. Something possessed me to color Tattoo with the markers.
Her pure white fur disappeared into a myriad of hues…red, hot pink,
yellow-orange, turquoise, blue and purple. When the decoration was completed,
she looked like a rainbow-colored cat. And she did not seem to mind. In fact,
she liked the attention and we agreed that she looked absolutely beautiful.
Grooming over the following days gradually turned the bright colors into a
blend of soft pastels that resembled dyed Easter eggs.
Tattoo
often joined me for dinner by placing herself in a semi-circle around my plate,
as close as possible without actually touching it. Then, when she thought I was
not looking, she swiftly swooped her paw across the plate and removed whatever
she thought would suit her taste buds.
Moving
around the apartment took cautious maneuvering. Tattoo was like a third leg,
constantly walking between my legs and under my feet. I am not complaining. My
careful footfalls and high-steppin' were a small compensation for all of the
time that she spent alone. She craved our time together.
People
who love cats are familiar with the phrase “lap cat.” Tattoo defined the term
eloquently, without being particular about whose lap she chose. Any lap would
do…mine, a friend, a date or a boyfriend. Of course, like most cats, she
possessed a talent for picking the one person in a room that was not especially
fond of cats. Given a choice, theirs was always the lap she chose!
Bedtime
was a ritual for both of us. She carefully found a favored spot and snuggled
tightly into a small nook of my body. Other times, she wrapped herself around
my head and we shared the pillow. There was never a night that we were not
together. And any overnight guests, if you know what I mean, had to share the
bed with her too!
Asking
the landlord for permission to have a cat was not something that ever crossed
my mind. It took five years for the management to discover Tattoo.
One
day, a notice was posted on my door demanding that I contact the apartment
manager immediately. The timing of the notice could not have come at a worse
time. My fiancé had just ended our seven-year relationship, only eight weeks
before our wedding date. This left me completely devastated.
I
suppose the manager took pity on my plight as I sat in her office, sobbing,
telling the story of my broken engagement and sharing the fact that Tattoo was
my only true comfort.
The
manager never asked me to leave or to find another home for Tattoo. I would
have had an emotional breakdown if Tattoo had not been there for me. After that
experience, it is easy to understand why I am so adamant in requiring RESQCATSadopterspresent landlord approval.
Tattoo
watched boyfriends come and go. She stayed by my side whether I was happy, sad,
uncertain or with a clear vision. For the first time in my life, I truly
understood what unconditional love was all about.
Tattoo
welcomed Violet, a kitten I rescued off a busy highway, as easily as she
accepted her new home with me. She and Violet made the cross-country trip from Texas to California in late 1985 so that I could marry the man of my dreams.
At
the age of twelve, Tattoo was diagnosed with hyperthyroid disease and was
treated with a radioactive iodine treatment. Fortunately, the treatment was a
success. I remember how difficult it was after her return home. The vet
recommended limited cuddle time for two weeks due to the radioactivity that
could be transferred from her body to mine. Somehow we got through it and she
was back to herself. Once recovered, she acted like a kitten again.
Two
years later, however, Tattoo was diagnosed with bone cancer in her nose. Sadly,
nothing could be done to save her.
Tattoo
was my very first cat. She was the first cat I ever loved. The first cat I ever
had to euthanize. The first cat I ever lost. The first cat I ever grieved for.
She
was my first for a lot of things. So it is no wonder that Tattoo has first
place in my heart!
Order Your Copy!
Watch Jeffyne talk about RESQCATS!
About the author:
Jeffyne Telson grew up in Dallas, Texas but has spent most of the
last half of her life in California. Although she has Bachelor of Arts
degree in graphic design from Texas Tech University, she has devoted the
last two decades to the pursuit of her real life’s passion…caring for
stray and abandoned cats and kittens.
In 1997, Jeffyne founded RESQCATS, Inc, as a non-profit organization
dedicated to the rescue, care and adoption of stray and abandoned cats
and kittens.
In the ensuing 20 years, with the help of a small group of dedicated
volunteers, Jeffyne has grown RESQCATS well beyond her dreams, into a
highly respected rescue organization that has placed more than 2700 cats
and kittens with qualified families and individuals.
Today, in addition to being the President of RESQCATS, Jeffyne and
her husband, Mitch, share their Santa Barbara, California home with 14
unadoptable cats, 9 collies and 15 giant African sulcata tortoises…all
rescued of course!
Cat-tails: Heart-warming Stories about the Cats and Kittensof RESQCATS by Jeffyne Telson provides a lovely portrait of one woman’s
passion and the lives she has touched while pursuing her chosen vocation. This
is a fascinating look at the power one person has to change the world around
her, and a tribute to her dedication to improving the lives of all of the
felines that she has come into contact with. Each chapter goes into detail about a
particular kitty (or kitties) who have been rescued by the author but also
describes how each of those felines impacted on her life and taught her life
lessons.
I was touched by the observations about human nature as well
as cat behavior as various scenarios were described, and sympathized with the
frustration described as the author shared some of the less desirable
tendencies to treat a living being as a commodity to be discarded when no
longer wanted or convenient. Fortunately, the heart-warming tales far outshone
the negative stories, and the author’s determination to do the best for her
charges—even at the expense of her own health—is readily apparent. I enjoyed
learning about some of the cats who have enriched the author’s life, and
cheered for those who found a forever home while marveling at the lengths the
author was willing to go to in order to rescue a lost soul. This is a charming
and inspirational book and it supports a very worthy cause and I can only
hope that everyone can be inspired to follow such a beneficial passion and
change the world a step at a time.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review
Sixth-grader Sophie
Washington and her friends are back with an interesting book about having fun
with video games while keeping balance. It’s almost Easter, and Sophie and her
family get ready to start fasts for Lent with their church, where they give up
doing something for 40 days that may not be good for them. Her parents urge
Sophie to stop tattling so much, and encourage her second-grade brother Cole to
give up something he loves most, playing video games. The kids agree to the
challenge, but how long can they keep it up? Soon after Lent begins, Cole
starts sneaking to play his video games. Things start to get out of control
when he loses a school electronic tablet he checked out without his parents’
permission, and comes to his sister for help. Should Sophie break her promise
and tattle on him?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Now
that I am getting older and am in the sixth grade, I can understand more of what
our pastor is saying in the sermons. Today, he was talking about how hard it
can be to stay away from things we like that may be bad for us.
“Temptation
is a daily struggle for all,” he preached.
“The
struggle for me is staying awake for two hours,” complains Cole. “I wish I
could have been with my friends in children’s church.”
Cole
prefers going to the special service for kids, and was mad that Mom and Dad
made us join them in the main church this morning.
“It’s
getting closer to Easter, and I want you to get a better understanding of what
the holiday is all about,” Dad explains. “In children’s church, all you pay
attention to is the snacks.”
“Those
donuts they bring in are good!” Cole exclaims.
“Maybe
we can stop by the donut shop on the way home.” Mom squeezes his shoulder.
I
roll my eyes. Since Cole is the youngest, he’s my mother’s pet.
“Have
you kids given any thought as to what you want to give up for Lent?” Dad asks.
“What’s
Lent?” questions Cole.
“Lent
represents the 40 days Jesus was in the desert and the devil tried to tempt
him, or get him to do things he shouldn’t do,” Mom explains. “During the 40
days before Easter, we celebrate Lent by giving up something we like to eat or
do that keeps us from thinking of more meaningful things, just like Jesus did.”
Tonya
Duncan Ellis was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She loves reading so much
that as a child she took books with her everywhere. She knew she wanted to
become a writer after an article she wrote was published in her hometown
newspaper when she was a teen. Since then, Tonya has worked as a journalist and
freelance magazine writer.
She's an award-winning author of the Sophie
Washington children's book series, geared towards readers ages 8 to 12. The
books recount adventures of Houston, TX preteen Sophie Washington and her
diverse group of friends. Each funny and heartwarming story teaches lessons
about friendship, responsibility, truthfulness and perseverance. Books in the
series include Queen of the Bee, The Snitch, Things You Didn't Know About
Sophie, and The Gamer. When she's not writing, Tonya enjoys reading, biking,
swimming, travel and spending time with her husband and three children. She
lives in Houston, TX.
Sophie Washington: The Gamer by Tonya Duncan Ellis
continues the saga of sixth grader Sophie as she deals with things like
sacrifices for Lent, sibling rivalry, trips to the dentist, and the ups and
downs of friendship. I love the realism of this series, that shows a normal
family against the backdrop of the horrific force of nature that affected
Houston and the hard work that is required to maintain a professional service
(dad is a dentist) and raise a decent family.
The kids struggle with the concept of sacrifice for Lent,
especially when it involves giving something up that is precious. I was
entertained by what her parents chose for Sophie to give up and the moral
dilemma that it presented gave richness to the story. The jealousy of her friend
Mariama’s celebration wasn’t quite addressed as well as I would have liked, but
I love that Sophie had a chance to shine as a generous friend. The irony of a
dentist’s children having issues with their teeth is entertaining and I enjoyed
watching the family grow, both literally and figuratively.
I think this is a great series, both for the way it
addresses common issues that children face and for the elements of diversity
that accompany a glimpse into the lives of an engaging nuclear family. Each of
the stories can stand alone, yet builds on events from the previous tale so
that one will appreciate the lessons learned in each episode. I am delighted
that there are multiple books in this series and look forward to watching
Sophie and her brother continue to grow.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review.
There'd forever been a thread running through Trevor Estes's life—his son Riley, strong and constant like heartbeat. But when Riley is killed in combat, everything in Trevor's life unravels into a mess he doesn't know how to mourn.
Until Jesse Byrne, Riley's friend and platoon mate, arrives on his doorstep with a box of Riley's things. Jesse's all-too-familiar grief provides an unlikely source of comfort for Trevor; knowing he's not alone is exactly what he needs. Trevor never imagined he'd find someone who fills his heart with hope again. As the pair celebrate Riley's memory, their unique bond deepens into something irreplaceable—and something neither man can live without.
But diving into a relationship can't be so simple. Being together means Trevor risking the last link he has to his son...leaving Jesse to wonder if he'll ever be enough, or if Trevor will always be haunted by the past.
**********************
Excerpt:
Trevor reached up to brush Jesse’s tears away, letting his thumb linger along his cheek. “So thank you. Thanks for letting me see my son through you.” Jesse’s lips trembled. “I miss him. I miss him so much.” Trevor slid his hand to the back of Jesse’s neck. “I know.” With a small sob, Jesse reached out to wrap his arms around Trevor, pulling him close. His body was shaking, tremors of grief Trevor knew only too well wracking him from head to toe. All around them the world ebbed and flowed, oblivious to the fact a twenty-year-old boy had been torn from it, leaving behind two people who’d loved him and who now clung together, their shared pain a strange sort of comfort. Trevor stroked Jesse’s hair as he shuddered against him, biting his own lip against the tears that stung his eyes. This was Jesse’s fight, and Trevor marshaled every ounce of composure he could, determined to be strong in return for this man who’d given him so much. “It’s okay,” he murmured over and over. “It’s okay to miss him. I miss him, too.”
Melanie Hansen likes to consider herself a cynic, but at heart she’s a hopeless romantic. Every morning she gets up before dawn to spend time with her characters, creating stories that are deeply emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, but in the end where love always wins. Melanie’s proud of the fact that two of her books have been named as RT Book Reviews Top Picks.
She grew up with an Air Force dad, ended up marrying a Navy man, and has lived and worked all over the country. Melanie hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.
My Christmas cactus was happy this year...around late January!
I've long been a science fiction aficionado, starting with Heinlein's kid's books and then discovering the wonders of Andre Norton and moving on to others...hmm, guess that will have to be another Saturday Seven, lol.
I enjoy space opera, although I can't seem to carve out enough time to keep up with all of them. Here are a few of the ones I have followed over the years...and I guess I will have to do another post in the future because I realize there are many more than seven that I enjoyed, lol. So...here are the ones I followed quite a while ago...
David Weber.
Honor Harrington lives up to her name, is a kick-ass heroine who definitely knows how to think outside of the box, and...TREECATS! Who can resist them?
David Drake
Such unique characters...Adele who is the ultimate librarian contrasted with Lt. Leary, who never met a soul he couldn't charm...and then there's the cold-blooded assassin who attaches herself to Adele...
Elizabeth Moon
I was delighted with both the intrepid captain and her employer, that
wily elderly woman. Add in the horse angle, and who could resist these
stories?
Lois McMaster Bujold. Oh, my. Talk about a unique hero...Miles was attacked while still in the womb, ended up a less-than-perfect physical specimen in a society that usually kills those who do not fit their standards, but wow...does he compensate for his lack of stature! I know that it wasn't to everyone's taste...but there is an incident with butter bugs that had me laughing SO hard... I'm not crazy about these covers and find the versions I have much more aesthetically pleasing.
CJ Cherryh...ok, so I'm cheating a bit. I LOVE the world-building this author does, and each of these series is remarkable in the complex cultures represented. The first series was my introduction to the concept of cloning, and was a very chilling look at the way that can be used for evil...
David Feintuch. I was fascinated watching the hero work his way up through the ranks while the world around him changed.
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller...
The Liaden Universe and its unique mores and cultures was already fascinating to me...and then attention switched to young Theo Waitley, a remarkable individual. I vividly remember being so impressed that she could press a button and compress her closet into a tidy traveling case...a fascinating concept to someone who inevitably had way too much weight (in books, of course!) whenever traveling.
These books occupy a great deal of my "keeper" shelves. I hope that you give one or two of them a try if you haven't read them before!
Once again, thank you to Long and Short Reviews for this fun concept. I have enjoyed visiting new blogs and finding new authors to follow (although my mailbox is not so happy, lol). Please make sure you visit some of the other participants and share the love!
When the immortal Pietas is marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, he knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that's the problem. He's not.
Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped inside their pods and it's up to Pietas to free them. He can't release one at a time. It's all or nothing. He's facing over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless immortals who will call on him for rescue and he has no way to answer.
It's not all bad. The beautiful telepathic warrior he's loved for lifetimes is at his side. He's bonded with a sentient panther. He hates humans but the one dumped on this planet with him has become a trusted friend.
Before Pietas can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he's fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father.
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever...
"WARNING"
Contains humor, sweet romance, betrayal, angst, vengeance... and a ginormous, sentient black panther who wants to be Pietas's "kitty."
Genre: science fiction, sci fi, scifi romance, action adventure, space opera, military science fiction
ASIN B077BRSRP4
ISBN 1981328327
Released: Dec 27, 2017
Publisher: Romance Lives Forever Books
Pages: 236
Print pages: 297
Wordcount: 75,831
Suggested keywords:
Kayelle Allen, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire, science fiction romance, immortals, Pietas, sci fi, space opera
