Saturday, July 19, 2025

Tempered Journey by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

 Wild Women Authors welcomes author Pamela S. Thibodeaux who is celebrating the rerelease of Tempered Journey, Book 6 in The Tempered Series. With Pamela is Pat Greene who will go first.

Welcome, Pat, thank you for joining us. Let’s begin with where you are from. Magnolia, Mississippi

Tell us a bit about Tempered Journey. It is the story of a woman who is second-guessing her life choices and a man who has been widowed for over a decade who are brought together due to a case of mistaken identity.

What did you think the first time you saw Craig Harris? At first glance I thought he was Dr. Scott Hensley, a man I once knew and admired. Turns out they are half-brothers.

What was your second thought?  What a handsome cowboy!

Was it love at first sight? Since I was waxing sentimental over Scott the first time I saw, then later met, Craig, I can’t honestly say love at first sight. I can tell you the attraction was definitely there, but I had a few moments of sheer panic that I might be transferring a long-forgotten, unrequited love from one man onto his brother.

What do you like most about him? There is nothing I don’t like about Craig and that’s the dilemma! I’d never felt that way about another man other than his brother over thirty years ago.

How would you describe him? Tall, broad, muscular. An air of confidence that borders on cockiness. Sense of humor. Cowboy charm.

How would Craig describe you? Strong. Independent. Slender. Short spiky blonde hair, with eyes so deep blue they appear purple.

What made you choose nursing for a career? I’d dreamed of being a nurse since I was a child, but I also wanted to travel the world. Working independently allowed me to do so. I’ve visited so many countries working with missionaries and non-governmental programs that offer health care in remote areas and to victims of natural disasters.

What is your biggest fear? I never thought I’d want to be married. My gypsy lifestyle made committing to settling down in a relationship difficult. But now that I’m nearing retirement age—should I decide to retire—my biggest fear is living the rest of my life alone.

How do you relax? What’s that? Seriously, I’m always on the go but Yoga and meditation are the two things that keep me most grounded and help me relax.

Who is your favorite fictional character? I was not overly fond of the heroine in Gone with the Wind, but when I read, Celia Garth which came out about ten years later, I found a woman I could identify with and cheer for.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? “If you don’t do something different, change the status quo, you’re not going to make it through this.”

We thank you for your insight as a woman of a certain age who is balancing on that precipice of the whats, whys and why nots of that next step in the road. Now we’d like to speak with Pamela.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Oh my! There is no way I can name only a few so I’ll just say Nora Roberts is my all-time favorite author. Although I read voraciously, when I want to binge, I always choose her books.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Pat Greene is best friends with the heroine in my novel, My Heart Weeps. That book is one woman’s journey through grief into new life and parallels mine. The two women share a bond closer than many blood sisters do. I have friends like that, so I guess that is one thing in my private life that I brought to this, story – both stories actually. Another is how difficult it can be to start over after the loss of your soul mate.

          Our hero, Craig Harris, has been widowed for over a decade. The struggle he faces is one many of us go through when loneliness gnaws at our heart and mind even though we think we’ll never truly love again.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? Tempered Journey, as well as the entire Tempered series, is independently published.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Right now, I’m reading, Happier than God by Neale Donald Walsch, but my Kindle is full of fiction and nonfiction titles begging to be read.

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I am currently working on a nonfiction project but have several fiction works in progress as well so I can’t pinpoint what comes next. I can say, however, that the audio versions of my 2 short story collections, A Hint of Romance and A Hint of Holiday Romance, are in the recording process and hopefully will be available later this year or early next.

 

About our featured author: Pamela S. Thibodeaux is an award-winning author, life coach and spiritual mentor. Her tagline, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ defines her life, writing, and coaching style. Find and Follow Pam through the links found @Linktree HERE: https://linktr.ee/pamelasthibodeauxauthor

Tempered Journey can be found at Amazon for Kindle, in Paperback and Audio: https://amzn.to/43LL3HU or other online retailers Here: https://books2read.com/TemperedJourney

 

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

For Keeps

 




It's not often we get to show off an important part of our former life--prior to turning into a published author we mean. 

A Bit About For Keeps: 

     Meghan Muldoon is at a crossroads in her life: struggling to balance the demands of a high stress vocation as an advocate for victims of violence with her feelings for Keenan Rossi, a man who wants to make their relationship permanent. On Valentine's Day, a series of routine crises force Meg to question staying in a profession which fulfills her both professionally and spiritually—or devoting the rest of her life to the one person who completes her.

Excerpt:

            “Crime Victim Services. How may I help you?”

            The caller's voice was low, husky, and exquisitely male. “Do you know the difference between a barracuda and a victim advocate?”

            Her heart skipped a beat. “Lip gloss.”

            Well damn,” Kee muttered. “You already heard it.”

            An oldie but a goodie, pal.”

            Aren't we all. How you doin' on this gorgeous February day, gorgeous?”

            Bringing his handsome face to mind took no great effort. They had worked together for more years than either cared to count. When the relationship progressed beyond professional Meg felt they should keep things under the radar. At first Keenan agreed, claiming he wasn't in the mood tor any crap from his peers about exploring his feminine side. But after a while he began to push for something more permanent. And she wasn't so sure she was ready for that, especially marriage. Meg liked being able to come and go as she pleased, responsible only to herself, and for herself.

            Even though she heard the tease in his voice now, she was still smarting from last night so proceeded with caution. “Not too bad. How's by you?”

            Lemme tell you, cara. If I was any better, I'd scare myself.”

Buy links for For Keeps:

Amazon:  https://www.Amazon.com/s?K=For+Keeps+by+Veronica+Lynch&crid=3BPHO00AJ4U&sprefix=for+keeps+by Veronica+Lynch

 Goodreads:Goodreads.com/search?q=For+Keeps+by+Veronica+Lynch&id=VnDrO8S56G 

 The Wild Rose Press: catalog.thewildrosepress.com/search?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=For+Keeps&submit_search=

 Bookbub:  Bookbub.com/w/for-keeps-by-veronica-lynch

 Barnes & Noble:  barnesandnoble.com/w/for-keeps-veronica-lynch/1123244129?ean=2940157679583

 For more information on Veronica, go to:

Email:                  WildWomenAuthors@gmail.com

Blogs:                  www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com

                   www.WildWomenReviews.blogspot.com

Bluesky:    @VeronicaLynch.bsky.social

 Amazon:    Veronica_Lynch/B01MCTZJ?ref=cp_rdr&is

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WildWomenAuthors

                   www.Facebook.com.VeronicaLynch2004

Goodreads:         Goodreads.com/Author.Veronica_Lynch

 Instagram:@VeronicaLynchAuthor


Author Bio:

Legal nurse consultant, victim advocate, sexual assault nurse examiner Veronica Lynch has been there and done that--many times over. She often travels from her home close to the shore of Lake Ontario to the Saint Lawrence River/Thousand Island Region of Northern New York State as well as the historic Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, looking for settings for her books which feature strong characters who stand for the less thans in this world.

Over the years, she has been called many things, not all of them flattering. The name she treasures most is Nana to the four brightest lights in her life: Meredith and Ashlin, Owen and Kieran.

 


Monday, July 14, 2025

Caper Magic


 Today, we're taking a bit of time to blow our own horn.

In anticipation of the 2026 release of Something to Talk About, we're focusing on some of our old faves and want to tell you about them. One is Caper Magic, part of the Hauntings in the Garden anthology by the Wild Rose Press. Today it's featured on Literal Literary and we couldn't be more pleased. You can check it out at:  

https://literalliterary.com/blog/book-spotlight-caper-magic-by-veronica-lynch/

In the meantime, here's a bit about Caper Magic and a couple of its characters:

Excerpt: 

          Hank let out a holler just before a huge toothy grin spanned the borders of his gaunt cheeks. “Top o' the marnin' to ye, Missus!” he cackled to someone exiting the front door of the stone cottage next door.  

          Taking the concrete steps to the sidewalk in two lithe moves, a woman dressed in a slinky dress the color of ripe tomatoes glanced their way and responded in a distinct Irish brogue. “And the ass end of the day to ye, Mistur Pierpont.”

          Intrigued by rich tone of her voice, Nick craned his neck and found one of the witches from yesterday's parade—minus the droopy velvet hat—passing within steps of Hank's porch. A bulging garment bag hung over one arm; she looked headed in the direction of the pier at the end of Vincentian Lane. Damned if right then a wind didn't jump up off the lake and mold the filmy length of scarlet against each curve of her body. Long black hair—and there seemed to be a good ten pounds of it—flowed over her shoulders, caressing her body like a lover as she marched toward Dingle Pier. When his heart bumped into a trip hammer beat, Nick reminded himself to breathe. 

          “Ferget yer broom, Missus?” Hank called out to her retreating back.

          “In the repair shop,” she replied over one shoulder, winging that glorious onyx hair away from lips painted to match her dress. “Gettin' fitted with a couple of those fancy turbo boosters, it is.”

          Hank chuckled, then went back to his coffee. “Turbo boosters. That Nunie Doyle sure is a pistol.”

          An invisible fist reached down to grab Nick's gut in a vise. As recognition flared, long buried rage took a slow crawling path up his spine. 

 BUY LINKS:

Wild Rose Press:  https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3329-caper-magic.html

Amazon:  wwwAmazon.com/Caper-Magic-Hauntings-Garden-Veronica=ebook/dp/B00O0FVUDC/ref=pd

Barnes and Noble:  barnesandnoble.com/w/caper-magic-veronica-lynch/1120635282

Apple Books:  books.apple.com/us/book/caper-magic/id923710262

Bookbub: Bookbub.com/books/caper-magic-by-Veronica-Lynch

Friday, July 11, 2025

One Sweet Christmas by Darlene Fredette

Wild Women Authors is pleased to focus on One Sweet Christmas a contemporary romantic novella by Darlene Fredette.

More than a few pieces of chocolate are essential to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer.

 About the Book:  Candice Cane agreed to sign the divorce papers under one condition, for four days, Jackson Frost must play Santa Claus in her chocolate shop. However, her Christmas miracle would crumble if Jackson knew the truth.

       Property developer, Jackson Frost, wanted to spend Christmas on a beach, instead, he’s home in snowy Redford Falls dressed in a Santa suit. The temptation of delectable chocolate and a second chance might lure him to stay.

 Excerpt:

A tiny piece of her hoped his family was behind his visit, but she suspected—and dreaded—his reason was more complex and involved. “You traveled all this way and have no intention of seeing your family? What is wrong with you? Has the big city air caused you to lose your mind?”

“That is a possibility. Because for the life of me, I don’t remember getting married.”

His statement sliced through her, unearthing scars she never wanted to revisit. Candice stepped backward.

Jackson withdrew a document from inside his coat pocket. He unfolded the certificate and waved it in the air. “Recognize this?”

Candice snatched away the paper. A weight pressed heavily on her chest, stalling a breath. Scanning the words, she held onto the counter for support.

A loud timer buzzed from the kitchen, startling both Candice and Jackson.

Candice raced toward the kitchen. “Fudge.”

More on Darlene Fredette can be found at:

Website: http://www.darlenefredette.com/

Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenefredette1/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/darlenefredette.bsky.social

One Sweet Christmas can be purchased at:

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/One-Sweet-Christmas-Redford-Falls-ebook/dp/B0F8RC2YSF

 Free on KU for a limited time!

 YouTube Teaser: https://youtu.be/N-Ikjv_Zd5s 

Friday, July 4, 2025

Chasing Shadows by Cat Jameson

              The sexy stranger from the one-night-stand she can’t forget turns out to be the key witness against her client … and somebody wants him dead.

Annie O’Toole, a St. Louis Public Defender, is passionate about fighting for the underdog and determined to prove herself as the badass trial lawyer she knows she can be.  Getting assigned to defend the kid charged with shooting billionaire businessman, Michael Grayson, is a big step up for her career.

Until the hot guy she seduced at the Justice for All Ball shows up at her office in response to her deposition subpoena. Turns out the sexy stranger who introduced himself only as ‘Mick’, the guy she’s been fantasizing about since slipping away while he slept — is none other than Michael Grayson.

She’s horrified. He’s furious. He thinks she set him up. She thinks he’s an arrogant ass in a snazzy suit. Intrigue and bullets fly in a mix of swoon and sparks as Annie and Michael battle each other, the bad guys, and an off-limits attraction neither can ignore.

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature author Cat Jameson and Chasing Shadows, her debut novel of romantic suspense out of the Wild Rose Press. Up first is businessman Michael Grayson.

Good morning, Michael. Let’s begin with where are you from. I grew up about an hour south of St. Louis in Ste. Genevieve, MO. Just follow the Mississippi River and you can’t miss it. It’s a beautiful little river town of around 5,000 people. It also happens to be Missouri’s oldest permanent European settlement. A lot of the original colonial settlement from the 1700’s is still in use. It’s pretty cool. My folks still live there in the same house I grew up in. I was ready to get out and spread my wings as soon as I hit eighteen, but it was a good place to grow up. After the Navy and college, I settled in St. Louis – close enough to easily visit the folks but in a city with the infrastructure to support the company I planned to build.

What did you think the first time you saw Annie O’Toole?  She was gorgeous and sexy as hell, with the greenest eyes I’d ever seen. I’d been bored out of my mind at that fundraiser, ready to throw in the towel and call it a night when this bombshell of a redhead dumps bourbon all over my tux and I was anything but bored.

And your second thought was? She didn’t pussyfoot around or suck up to me. She wasn’t trying to impress me, like the rest of the world. That was … intoxicating. I couldn’t remember the last time somebody — anybody, much less a beautiful woman — treated me like a normal person. Money like mine opens a lot of doors, you know?  But Annie was REAL, with this quick wit and smart mouth. That’s what I wanted to keep when I suggested our ‘let’s-keep-things-anonymous’ game. I was afraid if she knew who I was, it would screw everything up.

Was it love at first sight? Well, that first sight definitely got my attention, but I’d say it was more ‘love that first night.’ See, we agreed to have this out-of-character, bold and crazy, first-names-only one-night stand, after which we’d both ride off into the sunrise with great memories and zero complications. Bit of a story as to how we got there, but basically, I think we’d both been burned enough that a night like that sounded pretty fabulous. Only she blew me away that night in so many ways. When I woke up and realized she was gone, I knew I wanted her back. I just had no idea where to find her or what a debacle the whole thing would turn into once I did. But you know? If I hadn’t gotten shot, I never would have met her. I used to think the expression ‘I’d take a bullet for you’ was just that — an expression. But it was taking that bullet that brought me to Annie, so yeah. If I had it to do over, I’d take that bullet for her all over again. Crazy, huh?

What do you like most about her?  Her spirit. She’s this wonderful concoction of contradictions. She’s one of the most principled people I know. It’s never about what’s convenient or easy with Annie. It’s about what’s right. I’m a better person with her than I was without her, that’s for sure. She’s passionate about things she believes in and the people she cares about, but she also doesn’t take life too seriously. She can laugh at herself and helps the rest of us do the same. And she’s one of the bravest people I know. How many people can walk away from everything and everyone they’ve ever known because it’s just toxic – as a college kid, with nothing to fall back on? Just cutting all the nets and taking that leap to build a life you can love. She awes me.

How would you describe her?  Fiery. Funny. Determined. Passionate. Smart. Loyal — if you’ve earned it. Dangerous if you haven’t. Sexy. Sensual. Adventurous. Curious. Disorganized. Stubborn. Impulsive. Infuriating. The love of my life.

Okay, but how would she describe you?  At times, she’s described me as a self-absorbed ass and a man who would ruin her life if she stayed with me. I think I’ve finally convinced her she was wrong about that last one. Let’s see, loyal, protective, smart, creative, impatient, easily bored if I’m not challenging myself. A little too daring for her taste.

What made you choose aeronautics for a career?  Have you ever seen the Blue Angels perform— you know that squadron of Navy pilots who do that precision flying with all those amazing acrobatic maneuvers? My dad took me to see them at an air show when I was like ten. I had never seen anything as cool as that. I wanted to be them. After, I’d watch the jets from Scott Air Force Base across the river fly overhead and make up these elaborate stories about all the heroic stuff those pilots did. I had a pretty good imagination as a kid. By the time I was old enough to enlist, I had a little more realistic idea of what it meant to be a fighter pilot, but the dream still held. So, I became a Navy pilot. And yes, I loved it as much as I’d thought I would. When I got a chance to be a test pilot on some new designs, I began to get interested in not just flying, but designing, fighter planes. Thinking about things that would make the planes I was flying perform better. From there it was a natural progression. The GI bill paid for me to get my degree in aeronautical engineering. I managed to sell a few design upgrade ideas for enough money to start my own company. And the rest, as they say, is history.

What is your biggest fear? I’d have to say irrelevance. Well, if you don’t count losing Annie. That would definitely be my biggest fear.

How do you relax? I can’t say there’s just one go-to way. I enjoy sharing a drink or dinner with friends — something that had pretty much dropped by the wayside when I was running Grayson Aeronautics, so I’ve made a point to get back to that. I like just hanging out at home.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Maverick from Top Gun. Who else?

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? “You don’t like the territory, change it.”

Thanks for taking time out for us, Michael. Now we’d like to chat with Cat.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? The Noras! I love all things Nora Ephron: When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle… Her characters are so multi-dimensional — funny and poignant, conflicted, both disillusioned and hopeful — like most of us. And I’ve long loved Nora Roberts books. She introduced me to the genre of romantic suspense, which is what I now write. So both hugely influential.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Chasing Shadows is set in the same courthouse and public defender office in which I used to practice, so all of the descriptions of that place are completely accurate, as are a number of the experiences Annie and Jonathan banter about visiting clients in different jails. I really did have a guard tell me to either sit on the toilet in my client’s cell or on the bed to conduct an attorney-client interview. When I flat out refused, he finally brought me a big bucket I could turn over and use as a seat. Such a glamorous life. 

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them?  I went to The Ozark Creative Writer’s Conference in Eureka Springs, AR and Rhonda Penders from The Wild Rose Press was there, both doing a presentation and also taking pitches. I made my pitch. She told me to send her the first chapter. Then a week or so later emailed and asked me to send the full manuscript. And a month or so after that, I got the e-mail offering me a contract!

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Oh my god, I have an entire bookcase of TBR’s. Right this moment, I’m binging Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries while waiting for Elodie Hart’s Duplicity to be released. Ditto with the next book in Marie Force’s First Family series.

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? Next up is Chasing Secrets (tentative title), which picks up the story of Jax who we met in Chasing Shadows as Streeter’s smartass assistant. Unfortunately, it’s still in first draft stage.

 

Cat Jameson can be found at: www.catjameson.com

 

To purchase Chasing Shadows, go to: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Books.A.Million, Bookshop.org, Kobo.com, Walmart, and The Wild Rose Press.