The Heart of a Cowboy – Colorado Cowboys, Book 2 – is now on Audio!

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Council Grove, Kansas.  May 1863. An icy cold river. A near drowning. Bandits. Horses. Wagons. A brilliant Botanist.  A brave Cowboy. A Bodyguard.  Get ready – this new historical romance literally starts off with a splash!  As in the rushing water splash … of the unforgiving Neosho River.

I couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate the audiobook release of Book 2 of the Colorado Cowboys: The Heart of A Cowboy, written by the extraordinary Jody Hedlund, and published by the wonderful team at Tantor Audio. 

We first meet botanist Linnea Newberry in the river. Drowning. Literally. She’d been perched on the back of a covered wagon headed for Colorado Territory, completely immersed in her study of a southern cattail, Typha domingensis.  In the midst of her analysis, her wagon hits a large stone in the river bed and she is unceremoniously thrown into the rushing water of the Neosho River.  The current is strong from recent rains, and the muddy water immediately drags her under, aided by the weight of her heavy muslin skirt and petticoats.  Luckily for her, a lone rider is nearby and he and his sorrel horse waste no time, plunging into the river, in an attempt to pluck her from the river’s cold claws.  

The lone rider is a cowboy by the name of Flynn McQuaid.  We’ve met Flynn before. He made his first entrance at the end of Colorado Cowboys, Book 1:  A Cowboy for Keeps, when he receives a letter from our hero in the first book, Wyatt McQuaid, pleading for his brother to come out west with their younger siblings, to where Wyatt promises them a new life.  

Back at the river, once Linnea is rescued from the brink of death by Flynn, Linnea’s grandfather, who is lead scientist, hires Flynn to act as his granddaughter’s bodyguard, unbeknownst to Linnea, for the rest of their botanical expedition in order to ensure her safety.  Flynn is on his own expedition, albeit begrudgingly, driving Wyatt’s cattle across the Sante Fe trail.  He is desperate to provide a better life for his younger siblings and even though the last thing he wants is Wyatt’s help, he knows he needs to do something to start over and maybe, hopefully, he can finally start to dislodge the oppressive load of guilt that hangs heavy on his shoulders. He needs to get his life together and the last thing he wants, or has any time for, is romance. 

But hey, that’s perfectly fine because Linnea doesn’t have romance on her mind, either! Not in the least.  Linnea is desperately trying to make a name for herself as a respected and revered botanist, in a time where women were still not being taken seriously in the science world. The last thing she wants to do is get sent back home, or worse – fall in love and get off track. Oh no.  Her career is the only thing on her mind. 

However, sometimes our minds and our hearts aren’t always in agreement and when Flynn reluctantly accepts the charge to become Linnea’s bodyguard, an entirely new expedition … of the heart, ensues.

The Heart of a Cowboy is now available on Audible and Amazon. 

 

The Athlete Inside – Now on Audio!

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“Anything is possible when you have the courage to start a journey – whatever that journey may be.” – Sue Reynolds

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of courage is: “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.”  When I look back on Sue Reynolds’ journey from 335 pounds to world-class triathlon in 4 short years, courage is definitely a word that comes to mind.  I can’t help but be overcome by the incredible amount of fortitude it took for Sue Reynolds to one day say “enough” to her then obese body and begin to take those first few steps that ultimately would lead her to a whole new life.  The Athlete Inside: The Transforming Power of Hope, Tenacity, and Faith is Reynolds’ inspiring true story, a story that has stayed with me long after I finished narrating this incredibly powerful book. 

The Athlete Inside, begins with Reynolds providing us with a bird’s eye view of a race that is about to happen at Worlds (the International Triathlon Union’s Age Group Triathlon World Championship) in Cozumel, Mexico.  As she readies herself to jump into the Gulf of Mexico, and begin the first leg of the race, Sue is struck by the thought that four years earlier she was considered morbidly obese at 335 pounds.  She couldn’t tie her own shoes, couldn’t fit into a restaurant booth, couldn’t walk a block, or much less stand, without gasping for breath – and now … here she was  – a member of Team USA, and one of 113 of the fastest women in the world in her age group.  Inconceivable.  She reflects on the many people that believed in her and cheered her on, from family and friends, to her coach, to complete strangers who came into her life at just the right moment to offer a word of encouragement when she needed it the most.  At the sound of the air horn, the race begins and we are transported back to how it all began and how Sue ultimately finds the strength to say no to fear, doubt, exhaustion, pain and unbelief and to ultimately say YES to herself, to a new way of living, to a spiritual journey that she never expected, and to the athlete inside … that she never knew was there.  

The Athlete Inside is now available in print and on Audio and can be found at Audible and on Amazon.  Heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team at christianaudio for inviting me along on this extraordinary journey.  

 

New Fiction Story Podcast – I WOULD – Releases On Fantasy Magazine

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Step out and fly away … with a new fantasy from Fantasy Magazine! 

I had so much fun narrating this captivating new fiction –  I WOULD by Benjamin C. Kinney releasing this week in the July issue of Fantasy Magazine.  
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Kinney creates a world of magic in this bewitching story that is filled with rich characters and endless possibilities. Endless possibilities, that is … if you happen to be a seer. 

A seer is a person who prophesies future events, and in I WOULD, Knira, is one such person.  She receives her visions through the constellations in the sky.  Knira however, is currently being held captive in a jeweled castle, by robber Queen, Iroda, Warden of the Tollgate. Queen Iroda wants to know what Knira sees in the constellations, and she will stop at nothing to get a glimpse of these visions. Two visitors soon arrive at the castle, Atyce Dragon-Slayer and her traveling companion, Despina – who is dressed in full mail regalia, with sword ready.  The evening begins with a feast to welcome the visitors, … although these visitors are not really welcome. Each person in this intimate party, has their own feast in mind.  As the tension mounts, Knira needs to find a way to cast her eye to the sky, so she can hatch a plan of escape. In one quick moment, she gets away from the guard with just enough time to throw open the shuttered windows.  She stares into the sliver of night, and her visions immediately begin to unfold.  She wonders “what would our lives be if we failed to strive for something glittering beyond our grasp?”  If Knira decides to takes one of the paths that is indeed, glittering beyond her grasp … just how would it play out?  As she is dragged away from the window, we soon learn, that there are many ways … to interpret a vision.
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I WOULD can be found in Issue 69 of Fantasy Magazine.  If you’d like to listen to to this story, please visit Fantasy Magazine here where you can listen or read the story, free of charge. 

Big thank you to the always incredible team at Skyboat Media, for inviting me on the magic carpet ride into this  enchanted world. 

 

Wonder Dogs: True Stories of Extraordinary Assistance Dogs – Releases on Audio!

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“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

Meet Tucker.  Not only is he adorable, but he is also one of the many extraordinary Wonder Dogs in this beautiful and inspiring new book – Wonder Dogs: True Stories of Extraordinary Assistance Dogs written by Maureen Maurer, with Jenna Benton.

We first meet Tucker when he arrives at the Kahului Airport in Maui, just in time for Christmas. Tucker is the newest addition to the ohana (family) of “heroes in training” at the Assistance Dogs of Hawaii.  At this point in Wonder Dogs, it has been five years since Maureen took a leap of faith and sold her CPA practice, in order to follow her childhood dream of training dogs to assist people with disabilities.  

As we move through each chapter of Wonder Dogs, Mo introduces us to a new “hero in training” along with the incredible individual, that they will be paired with.  The person in need of an assistance dog, may be a child, or an adult and their disabilities range from limited mobility to severe.  As we learn about each of these incredible dogs and their courageous partners, we see lives change, a newfound quality of life emerging that had never before been dreamed possible, and a bond of friendship formed, that will last a lifetime. The journeys that both of these heroes embark upon, is not only extraordinary – but will leave your heart forever changed, and so full.

This book has truly been one of the most encouraging, uplifting and moving books that I have ever had the pleasure of narrating.  Heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team at christianaudio for inviting me along on this extraordinary journey. I couldn’t be more grateful. 

If you, or someone you know, is in need of a special assistance dog, or you would like to help make it possible for more Wonder Dogs to help children and adults with disabilities, and other special needs, please visit ADH/ADNW’s websites at assistancedogshawaii.org or assistancedogsnorthwest.org.

Wonder Dogs: True Stories of Extraordinary Assistance Dogs is now available across all platforms, and can be found on Audible and at Amazon.com

Help Your Kids Learn & Love the BIBLE – Releasing today on Audio & in Print!

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helpyourkidsReleasing today on Audio and in Print is Danika Cooley’s wonderful and warm new book, Help Your Kids Learn & Love the BIBLE, published by Christianaudio.  It was such a pleasure and joy to narrate this helpful, down-to-earth, fun and insightful book that is woven with so much love.  Cooley keeps it real from the very first page, where we catch a glimpse of a busy mom, answering her three year old’s question, that’s being called from the back seat of the minivan, as to “Why … the Bible calls Jonah a prophet and not a missionary?” Cooley expertly navigates the road, as well as the question, as we learn that this is one of many conversations about the bible that this smart and savvy mom has with her young children, while en route “in a minivan littered with toys, raisins and an odd shoe.” 

Throughout Help Your Kids Learn & Love the BIBLE, Cooley keeps smiles on our faces as she shows us plenty of ways that helping our kids learn & love the bible can be interactive, loads of fun and engaging.  Imparting God’s word, love and wisdom into our kid’s lives doesn’t have to be difficult, dull or feel unattainable to include, in our already busy schedules. 

In one example, Cooley shows us how, in as little as 5 minutes every morning, we can teach our kids how to “put on the full armor of God” (see Ephesians 6:10-18) with a playacting memory game.  In her example, Cooley and her boys begin the day with Cooley shouting (as if in battle) –  “Be strong in the Lord!”  followed by  “Who do we fight?”  Her boys would eagerly yell back, in unison “Not against flesh and blood” Mom would then shout over the battlefield to them “What do we wear?” Enthusiastically, the boys would cheer back  “The full armor of God.” The family would then proceed to act out verses 10 through 18 from Ephesians Chapter 6, ending by victoriously jabbing the air with their “sword of the spirit”.  This is just one, of many examples, that Cooley shares with her audience, as to how we can communicate God’s word to our kids in an interactive and delightful way. This playful, but meaningful exercise, helped her boys to understand, not only the importance of putting on the full armor of God at the start of each day, but it also taught them about each action, what it meant, and why it was important, while at the same time committing the scripture to memory – all in about 5 minutes!

Throughout this book, Cooley shows us that even with a full schedule and littles in tow, each of us can find creative, engaging ways to help our kids embark on an amazing and exciting adventure through the Bible. An adventure, that will not only teach them about the love of God and His Word, but will also create lasting memories and teachable moments, that will stay with them for all of their days to come.  

Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible is now available at christianaudio.com, Amazon, Audible and across all platforms. 

Check out History Channel’s The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch – Season 2, Episode 2

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use this historyLocated in Utah, there is a ranch that has been considered a hot spot for UFO and paranormal activity for more than two hundred years.  Encompassing approximately 512 acres, at the center of the Uintah Basin, is a place called Skinwalker Ranch.

I first learned about Skinwalker Ranch when I was approached by author and researcher Ryan Skinner, back in 2015, in regards to recording his book, Skinwalker Ranch: The Path of the Skinwalker.  Most recently, Ryan and I collaborated again on his latest book The UFO Farm, which takes a deep dive into Ryan’s personal encounters in and around the ranch, as well as the documented interviews of many others who have also experienced first-hand, the unexplainable and often frightening phenomena, known to occur at Skinwalker Ranch.

The interest in Skinwalker Ranch continues to gather momentum, and now you can get even closer to this mysterious ranch, from the safety of your living room, via the History Channel Original Series: The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.  In this gripping new series, real estate tycoon, Brandon Fugal, is joined by a top notch team of dedicated scientists, investigators, researchers and experts, who work to uncover the mystery that lies between the natural elements of the ranch, and the vast unknown.  New episodes drop Tuesdays at 9/8c. This week on The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, Season 2, Episode 2,  author/researcher Ryan Skinner, makes a special appearance as a guest investigator.  In this episode, Ryan uncovers a never before seen sight at the ranch, which could help unlock a piece of this ever evading puzzle.

The UFO Farm,  it now available in print and on Audio at Audible.

Stay safe – and remember – if you’re traveling late at night on I-70, southwest of Fort Duchesne . . . watch out for those orbs!

Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting – Now on Audio!

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031921-slider-yourlifeiswaiting-1000x391_crop (1)“To everyone one of us who finally … maybe… possibly … believes they have the right to perpetual happiness, beginning now.” – Lynn Grabhorn. 

Releasing today on audio is Lynn Grabhorn’s insightful book, Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting: The Astonishing Power of Positive Feelings. 

I had the pleasure of narrating this profound book for Dreamscape Media, and to say it changed the way I now think … or rather feel … would be putting it mildly.  In Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting, Grabhorn outlines practical, clear steps to help us tap into our feelings, so that we can begin living the abundant life that was truly meant to be ours. 

In our day to day lives, it’s easy to get bogged down in the weeds by negative or worrisome thoughts. In Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting, Grabhorn invites us to start paying attention to how we’re feeling on a day to day basis, sharing that, it is only once we get in touch with our feelings, that we can then begin to see how our feelings have either, positively or negatively, been affecting our everyday life. 

The first step that Grabhorn encourages us to take, is to identify what we are currently thinking about and the things that we don’t want.  From here, step two inspires us to identify what we DO want.  In step three, we begin to get into the feeeeeling place of what we DO want.  Step four, motivates us to expect, listen and allow it to happen.  Grabhorn shares that once we actively take these four steps, we begin to live our lives in a happier, higher vibration of energy. Because we are now operating from that higher place, we soon notice our “worries, concerns, doubts and fears slowly start to move from a constant ever-present little hum to an uncommon occurrence in a matter of weeks.”   We begin to feel more encouraged, we start to dream again, we go through our day feeling more optimistic, and ultimately we become more connected to our inner being and the world around us. From here, we begin to move into that happier, more content place – the place, that we were always meant to live in.   

Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting is available in both the Expanded Study Edition, as well as the regular edition, and can be found on Audible, Amazon and across all platforms.  

Jody Hedlund’s A COWBOY FOR KEEPS Releases in Print & on Audio!

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Colorado Territory. August 1862. Horses. Romance. A Stagecoach Robbery. A Mail-Order Bride. A Handsome Cowboy. Whoa.

I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate the print and audiobook release of Jody Hedlund’s new book – A Cowboy For Keeps: Colorado Cowboys, Book 1.

Already a fan of Hedlund’s wonderful writing, it was such an incredible joy and honor to narrate A Cowboy For Keeps, published by the amazing team at Tantor Audio. 

A Cowboy For Keeps begins with a bang . . .  pun intended! We dive in from the get-go with a stagecoach robbery in progress, where we are introduced to the beautiful and strong-willed heroine, Greta Nilsson, who is traveling to Colorado as a mail-order bride.  Greta did not become a mail-order bride on a whim. This wasn’t a romantic notion. She has thought long and hard about this, has saved and planned. Greta’s eight year old sister, Astrid, suffers from consumption, and it was thought, during this time in history, that wide open spaces in the country could offer relief, and possibly extend the lives, of those who were struck with this illness. The only way Greta can think of, to help Astrid, is to offer herself as a mail-order bride to a wealthy man, who could provide for her and Astrid. However, things do not go as planned. At the hands of bandits, Greta loses every penny of her savings, only to then discover, that the man she’s come west to marry . . . is dead.  Jobless, penniless, with an ill sister, and knowing no one, Greta has to make a decision and quickly.

Enter Wyatt McQuaid. A handsome cowboy.  Wyatt wants to start a cattle ranch but he doesn’t have the money needed to get the ranch up and running.  The mayor, who has promised to help Greta, offers Wyatt the most unlikely of bargains. He will invest in the cattle Wyatt needs for his ranch. . . on one condition – that Wyatt help the town become more respectable, by getting married. And the mayor just happens to have the perfect bride in mind . . .

A Cowboy for Keeps is now available at Audible or on Amazon.

IN THE DARK makes Sophia Rose’s Top Ten Audiobooks of 2020

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What a delight and honor to learn that In The Dark  written by Loreth Anne White and published by Brilliance Audio, made Sophia Rose’s Top 10 Audiobooks of 2020! I had so much fun narrating this suspenseful, closed circle mystery.

In The Dark is based on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None  and is as spooky as all get out. Nine people, who all share a common secret, receive an all-expense paid luxury getaway to Forest Shadow Wilderness Resort & Spa, located in an isolated part of Kluhane Bay in Northern British Columbia. One by one, the guests are killed off, either by someone else at this remote resort, or someone in their group. White employs the cool mechanism of shifting time periods and perspectives throughout the book, moving from the fate of the guests in the recent past, to the search and rescue party, frantically looking for them in the present now. 

“For in the end there can only be one.  But maybe . . . there shall be none.”

You can check out all of the other awesome books on Sophia Rose’s list of her Top 10 Audiobooks of 2020 – here.

If you’d like to read the full review of In The Dark, you can access that review here.