Arf, arf, arf. It pounced again, his forelegs landing on Gabeโs chest, and
a long wet tongue rolling out to lick his face.A dog.Gabeโs breath fogged on the air as he let out a heavy sigh, pushed the dog
off his chest, and sat up. It was a goofy, too friendly, starved to skin-and-
bones boxer with floppy ears and a crooked tail. Gabe turned his face as the
tongue came back and bathed his face in slobber once again.Then, for the first time in months, John Gabriel Callahan
smiled.
From HUMMINGBIRD LAKE
Eternity Springs # 2
The gift heโd left was no stuffed animal or hockey stick or flavored lip
balm. This wasnโt a basket in her bed. It was a bed in her bed. A dog bed.
This time, his gift had a heartbeat. Colt Rafferty had left her a puppy. A puppy! A little white puff ball of
curls wearing a red collar tied with a big red bow, curled up and asleep on a
purple pillow. A folded gift card hung from a ribbon threaded through the wicker. In a
state of shock, Sage reached for it and read his bold handwriting.Sheโs a Bichon Frise and sheโs lonely. Sheโs had all her shots and Nic
says sheโs healthy and ready to be loved. I left dog food, bowls, a leash,
some toys, and a silly dog sweater Celeste pushed on me in a sack in your
kitchen. (Please, though, donโt humiliate the poor dog by dressing her up.)
Sheโs ready for you, Sage, and youโre ready for her. You bring smiles to
the lives of others through your work. Let this little furball bring smiles to
your life through play. โ Colt
From HEARTACHE FALLS
Eternity Springs #3
As Mac pulled into his driveway and parked the truck, he wished Ali were
home so he could tell her about it.But Ali wasnโt at home. No one was home. He was alone. Totally
alone.With that thought, Macโs throat went tight. Dear Lord, he was tired of
this. Feeling lonely. Feeling empty. Feeling old and used up.His shifted into park and switched off the motor. Shutting his eyes, he
let his head drop back against the headrest. He thought he just might cry. He
hadnโt cried since Judge Roscoe Whitcomb sentenced his mother to jail the first
time, but here in his very own driveway on a sunny Saturday in springtime,
tears were welling up inside him. How pitiful was that?Screw this. He sat up straight, twisted the key, and started the engine once more. If
he wasnโt mistaken, the animal shelter was open until two. โIโm gonna go get
me a dog.โ
In ANGELโS REST, a dog
literally saves Gabe Callahanโs life. In HUMMINGBIRD LAKE, a puppy
helps Sage Anderson recover from a traumatic event. In HEARTACHE FALLS, a mutt
rescued from the pound provides companionship for Mac Timberlake when he needs
it the most.
Dogs play a special role in the Eternity Springs series because they play a
special role in my life. My husband and I foster boxers for a local rescue
group, Legacy Boxer
Rescue. We adopted our dog, Doc, from Legacy four years ago--despite the
fact he walked into my house and had explosive diarreah on my dining room floor-
-and he's been such a joy in our lives. Last spring after Legacy sent an email
(with photos) begging for new foster homes for dogs on death row, my husband
and I decided to help out that one time.
"Yeah, right," she says nine dogs later.
Last June I brought home a new foster. Meet Angel, named for ANGEL'S REST. Angel had
been hit by a car she'd suffered a broken leg and fractured pelvis, she had
hookworms and unfortunately, heartworms. Poor Angel totally captured my
heart. She remained on strict crate rest for weeks and in mid-August, we
discover that she was expecting some little Angels of her own. Angel gave
birth to six puppies, three boys and three girls. Mama and the Angel Babies
did great and LBR set about finding the perfect forever homes not just for one
dog, but for seven.
In February, healed and healthy and ready for adoption, Angel met a potential
forever family who had two young children and another dog. Angel prissed and
primmed and played and the family fell in love. Angel had found her forever
home!
I missed her dreadfully, especially during the daytime when I'm at work in my
office and Angel wasnโt there at her "Angel's Rest," gazing out the window at
the world.
Because our spring schedules involved a lot of traveling, we took a little
break from fostering after Angel found her family, but the good thing about
rescue organizations is that thereโs always opportunity to volunteer in one way
or another. We volunteered to be foster โsittersโ to help the rescue group save
on boarding fees when foster families go out of town and need someone to care
for their foster dog. Now that our schedules have calmed down a bit, the Boxers-In-Need
page of the rescueโs website is calling out to me. By Memorial Day, Iโm
sure we'll have a new foster to love on. That's what rescue is all about.
To all my readers who are also animal lovers, I encourage you to consider
fostering for a rescue group in your area. It's truly rewarding. If you have
any questions about our experience as volunteers for a dog rescue group, please
ask! If you have any comments our questions about my Eternity Springs series,
please ask those too.
Thank you, Emily. What a wonderful job you're doing taking care of rescue dogs!
I'm a cat person, and I've had twelve during the last twenty years. All were either strays or pets in need of new homes. They weren't rescue cats, but would have been if I hadn't adopted them.
Yes, pets can add a lot to a work of fiction. They can even become characters in their own right.
Good luck with "Heartache Falls"! (Mary Anne Landers 1:54am April 27, 2011)
To Foster an animal is truly a labor of love. Our dog passed away a little over a year ago, and we miss her terribly!! Our landlords are even encouraging us to get another dog, because they loved her so much, and loved the way we raised her. I don't think that they would appreciate us taking in Foster dogs, but we will get another dog when the time is right. Your excerpts tugged at my heartstrings, and I'm so anxious to read your book. It zoomed to the top of my TBR list!! Congratulations on your new book!! Animal stories have a way of making you feel extra cozy. Congratulations with the work you do as well. (Peggy Roberson 8:12am April 27, 2011)
I'm afraid I would have been Angel's forever home after she recuperated with me! (Kelli Jo Calvert 10:34am April 27, 2011)
I rescued a two month old dog who was being abused and drugged by the owner. Her name is Schatzie and she is a pitbull-dalmation. She is now five years old and she suffers from Canine Epilepsy. Since the age of two years old, she has had about seven grand mal seizures. She takes phenabarbital twice a day to try and control having more seizures. She is one of the most friendliest dogs you would ever meet. Some of her talents are opening Christmas Presents and Carrying her lunch pail in her mouth with bones in it. She goes to all of the pet stores in town and everybody just loves her. Now I know why dog spelled backwards is God. He gave us our very best friends to love and love us back. How unique! (Cheryl English 3:12pm April 27, 2011)
I can't have pets, wish I could. The only pets I've ever been able to have were fish. I'm allergic to pet dander and feathers so no birds either. (Brenda Rupp 6:39pm April 27, 2011)
Congratulations on release day for Heartache Falls. I loved the blurbs for each book and they've gone up a notch on the TBR list! We have a couple of cats that rule the roost. (Karen Cherubino 7:28pm April 27, 2011)
Congrats on your new release! I, for one, am looking forward to Sarah Reese's story. Is Cameron Murphy really Lori's father and what about Zach Turner?
Although I tell people that I was raised by the two family dogs, I don't have any pets other than fish now as I am allergic. (S Tieh 7:45pm April 27, 2011)
I am definitely a dog person. Angel is beautiful. I have 2 of your books and am eagerly anticipating the third. (Maria Munoz 10:36am April 28, 2011)
Okay I'm hooked - definitely have three more books to add to my must read list. Dogs love us unconditionally - you can't really say that about anyone or anything else. My Maxwell will always have a special place in our hearts along with our Coco and Shani. Now we have a rescue grand doggie Annie who loves her little girl sooo much. (Sandra Wurman 11:34am April 28, 2011)
I snatched up "Heartbreak Falls" at Walmart and spent the rest of the day reading it - really, really good! I do appreciate those who rescue pets of any kind and my cat, Dusti, was rescued from a construction site when she was about 4 weeks old. She's quite a cat now - in size and personality! (Sherry Moran 12:29pm April 28, 2011)
A lovely story from a lovely lady! Your heart is as beautiful as your books are! (Sharon Galligar Chance 2:59pm April 28, 2011)
At my house only strays come and have to be fixed. The same at my daughters houses. (Linda Pillow 10:24pm April 28, 2011)
Last June I brought home a new foster. Meet Angel, named for 
Because our spring schedules involved a lot of traveling, we took a little
break from fostering after Angel found her family, but the good thing about
rescue organizations is that thereโs always opportunity to volunteer in one way
or another. We volunteered to be foster โsittersโ to help the rescue group save
on boarding fees when foster families go out of town and need someone to care
for their foster dog. Now that our schedules have calmed down a bit, the 
ANGEL'S REST
February
HUMMINGBIRD LAKE
March 22
HEARTACHE FALLS
April 27
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