Treasure Shore Beach, Florida … again!

More Purrseidon boogie board adventures!

adreamingatlas

Yes, we have been here and blogged about it before.

This has became one of our favorite beaches in Florida. And well Purrseidon, was insistent on coming with us this morning. How could you tell this furry face no? Especially, when it brought you a leash.

Yeah, I couldn’t, either…so our day’s plans went from going to a manatee observatory to the beach.

We choose this one because it is not crowded (well compared to others, today being a week before many go back to school, all beaches saw a little more traffic.) And the water here stays shallow forever so we can get behind the waves with plenty of standing room. It was the purrfect place for Purrseidon’s first boogie boarding and swimming lessons.

Purr loves water and has an unnatural obsession with the kids boogie boards. But is not very fond of the shoreline where the waves meet…

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How Purrseidon’s 1st Boogie Board Lesson went …

This is such a hoot! Cats never fail to surprise us, even when we’ve had dozens of them. They’re as individual as people.

Jeanne Foguth's Blog

I know y’all must think Purrseidon and her water addiction is strange (so do I) … some have speculated that she is a dog in a cat’s body: others have speculated that she believes the Purrtectors I write about in the Sea Purrtector Files are real and she wants to become one … We initially noticed her water obcession when she LIKED getting squirted with a water gun for climbing on the kitchen counter. As she got older, she would beg to go out whenever it rained and/or the lawn sprinkler was on.

I thought it was a very odd phase and she would grow out of it.

Instead, it got worse. Due to our country leash laws, she had to learn to walk on a leash in order to go outside… With the reward of getting into the rain and/or possibly roll in a mud-puddle, she learned fast. Then…

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Katy Huth Jones’ “Mercy’s Prince”: A Truly Believable Fantasy World Saturated with Suspense

This story was nothing short of a joy to read. It’s always refreshing to get totally immersed in a story without being jarred back to reality by misspellings, grammar goofs and other writing faux pas. As a self-declared grammar Nazi, I truly appreciated a book that has been so well-written and meticulously edited. But this is certainly not the only thing I loved about this book.

The characters jump right into your heart, at least the good ones. I love the cover, which captures the spirit of Prince Valerian so beautifully. He as well as sweet Mercy and many other supporting characters are not only convincing but very human with dreams, aspirations and hopes beset with tremendous obstacles, making it easy to connect with them emotionally. Their struggles are at times heart-rending as these genuinely goodhearted, god-fearing individuals are forced to confront situations where they’re forced to make a decision that runs against their beliefs, vows and principles. Moral dilemmas make any story more interesting while providing plenty of internal conflict and philosophical fodder as well. Nothing draws reader sympathy like making your characters suffer and suffer they truly do, through no fault of their own.

Not all of the characters are good, of course, and this one includes a villain who’s ruthless and beyond evil. His actions and intent sets your hair on end as you wonder what this devious slimeball is going to do next to make the hero and heroine miserable, up to and including making attempts on their respectively lives, as he furthers his own agenda.

Which brings me to the suspense, an element that’s superbly sustained throughout. This is reinforced by the fact that the good guys are not spared hardships, injuries or in some cases, death, making it more true to life than some where the protagonist and his cronies border on omniscient super-heroes who miraculous escape any sort of physical threat. This is a dangerous world where sedition is but part of a brutal war being waged against an enemy that reminded me more of the creatures in the “Alien” movies that starred Sigourney Weaver than a species of dragon. But there are dragons as well, some good, some not.

Fantasy fans will find a familiar world, one with a medieval flavor that includes royalty, castles, knights, ladies and dragons. The main characters have some magical traits, but nothing beyond what some possess in real life such as the ability to heal or communicate via telepathy. There are no magic swords beyond their significance as a connection to the past, which is richly represented in the well-developed culture. Their language is familiar, reminiscent of Olde English with a few variations that bring additional personality and color to the characters.

This story has enough elements to satisfy fantasy buffs, but they’re low key and realistic enough for those who simply enjoy a good tale with plenty of suspense and, of course, romance. The ending is satisfying but certainly leaves room for a sequel as new challenges await, throwing a few shadows into the “happily ever after” conclusion. I highly recommend this story to anyone seeking a journey back in time to a fantasy world that’s truly believable along with plenty of action and suspense. Pick up your copy in Kindle or print format at the link below.

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Science Fiction and Fantasy Converge in Jeanne Foguth’s “Star Bridge”

This delightful tale bespeaks another scenario where a spacefighter jock from a world annihilated by war and greed is shipwrecked on a lush world where its occupants are in tune with nature, superstitious and possess psychic as well as mystical abilities. While this is not a new theme as anyone who has seen “Avatar” or “Dances with Wolves” can attest, the characters are unique and refreshing, their interactions convincing and the descriptions vivid from the massive sequoia trees in which their dwellings are built to the vast array of herbs that the heroine, Nimri, uses in her role as a healer. Some themes never wear out in spite of repeated use when skillfully adapted to new characters facing age-old dilemmas.

Nimri’s peaceful life has been disrupted by the death of her harsh great-grandfather who was their tribe’s former leader, placing her in the role in which she’s expected to take up the Staff of Protection and assume the role of Keeper of the Peace between her tribe, the Chosen, and their nemesis, the Lost, who reside on the other side of the river.

Her great-grandfather has done a sorry job of preparing her, however, having bombarded her with constant criticism and demeaning comments which have left her devoid of confidence in her nascent abilities. Before she can even consider her new responsibilities, however, she must deliver his ashes to Sacred Mountain and scatter them at The Guardians’ feet, a journey from which no one has ever returned. Nonetheless, she swore an oath that she would do so and being a woman of her word, Nemri sets out on the hazardous path to her destination, joined along the way by her 600 pound feline companion, Kazza. Upon finding the sacred spot, she release’s her progenitor’s ashes. A moment later a disturbance shakes the ground and a tree falls, shoving her into the mysterious dark space between the looming stone Guardians.

Meanwhile, Colonel Larwin Atano, a Guerreterre Shadow Warrior, crashes unexpectedly on what he believes to be an uncharted planetoid. He blames the accident on software faults in the sexy-voiced android, GEA-4, which he is beta testing. As they exit their ship to seek shelter on what appears to be a lifeless rock, they find a tunnel which they follow. Eventually they encounter a beautiful, unconscious woman amidst the rubble in the cavern and the fun begins.

The misunderstandings resulting from Nimri and Larwin’s vast cultural differences are at times downright hilarious. Once he sets eyes upon a verdant world covered with vegetation, he envisions the vast wealth that will be his when he somehow gets back to Guerreterre where only the richest of the rich can afford house plants much less trees. Nimri, of course, thinks he’s the personification of one of the Guardians. Fortunately, GEA-4 facilitates the language barrier but while some understanding follows, the often humorous cultural barriers persist. Kazza adds yet another dimension, tying it all together with that wisdom seen in the eyes of his many feline cousins, large and small.

There is much more substance as well as plot intricacies in this enjoyable story than I can go into here to say nothing of avoiding spoiler territory as well. The imagery and details of this distant world are vivid and convincing, particularly Nimri’s gardens and tree-based abode. The culture with its myths, superstitions and traditions is well-developed, providing a strong basis for a trilogy of which this is the first volume. This charming crossover between science fiction and fantasy has elements that should satisfy fans of both genres. The main characters are complex and engaging while the supporting cast lends additional color and conflict. There are plenty of surprises along the way, especially in the finale, which brings a satisfying ending while leaving plenty of room for sequels that I look forward to reading. If you’re looking for an entertaining read with great characters and just the right amount of suspense highlighted by some great culture-clash humor, “Star Bridge” should fit the bill. You can pick up your copy at the Amazon link below.

Star Bridge on Amazon