As the happy servant to a couple of rescue dogs, I have a deep, warm place in my
heart for the people and organizations that care for neglected animals. Nothing
upset me more than hearing about an animal being abused. What I fantasize about
doing to abusers would get me locked up, but it might be worth it.
Where I live has what’s called a Saving Train. Earlier this year they held an
open house, and I took my granddaughters to it with me so the three of us could
learn more about this service. (I also thought the girls might volunteer to work
with the animals during summer break, which one of them did.) The director
explained that the Saving Train’s purpose is to take hand-picked dogs and cats
from overcrowded pounds (I hate that word) elsewhere and bring them to our area
where they’re adopted. The rescuers travel long distances to retrieve animals
needing second and sometimes first chances. It goes without saying that by the
end of the open house, I wanted to bring at least one animal home with me, but
I’m at my limit walking two dogs.
Months later, as I worked on my Feral Justice romantic
suspense series, I continued to think about this shoe-strings operation and the
wonderful work they do. My sons are grown, and we agree that we don’t need more
stuff. Still, I wanted to give them something for Christmas that would make it
clear how much I love them. About that time I received an email from the Saving
Train gently asking for donations. It costs $75 per dog or cat to rescue it and
bring it to the local facility. Needless to say, I made donations in my sons’ names.
Like I said, animal abuse infuriates me. There’s absolutely no excuse. I knew
writing a romance series that revolves around that subject meant taking a
chance. Fiction, especially romance, gives readers a chance to escape from the
real world, but what, I kept asking myself, if I delivered on happy endings?
What if the good guys win and the bad guys get what they deserve? I had to give
it a try.
Two of the three books in the Feral Justice series have
been published with the third in the pipeline. PUNISH introduces a trio
of big, gray dogs whose mission in life is to deliver primitive justice. At
first animal control officer Nate and teacher Rachelle don’t understand why the
dogs do as they do, but as their love for each other grows, they realize the
answer lies in where Rachelle’s step-father found the grays. They were on a Hopi
reservation, and the Hopi believe in peace and harmony. The just-published FANGS moves things to the
Oregon coast where Fish and Wildlife officer Jeff and Christmas tree farmer Mia
deal with their growing feelings for each other as the grays go after poachers.
Now to see how readers respond to what I felt I had to write.
Feral Justice
#2
As death and danger stalk the southern Oregon coast, Mia Sandas and Jeff
Julian must trust each other. Can they handle the truth?
When a poacher leaves a wounded elk cow to suffer on the southern Oregon coast,
Mia Sandas has no choice but to end its misery. Before she’s forced to do the
same to the cow’s orphaned calf, a massive gray dog appears and snaps its neck.
Unknown to Mia, this is only the beginning of a test of her courage and
comprehension. As she turns to Fish and Wildlife Officer Jeff Julian, the gray
and his four-legged companions stalk local animal abusers.
Jeff and Mia are drawn together as they seek understanding of what is taking
place in the forested mountains. They know the canines are committed to
primitive justice but why? Who are the targets and what will be the outcome?
Can Jeff and Mia stop more bloodshed—and do they want to?
Romance Paranormal
[Totally Bound Publishing, On Sale: January 3,
2017, e-Book, ISBN: 9781786511102 / eISBN: 9781786511102]
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