Today my heart is broken. I had to make the very difficult decision to put Blue to sleep. I've never had to 

do that before. But Blue was a fighter and I guess he knew I just couldn't let go. So he stayed on, even though he was in pain, couldn't move, and could barely breathe. I couldn't let him suffer the indignities any longer, so I had to let him go. His memory will live on in Blame it on Texas, where he was a major character, and in Blue Moon over Texas, where he had a couple of cameo appearances. He may show up in the next book, as well, because in my fiction he can still be vital, and alive, and happy. I only wish I could have made that so in real life. He was a true hero, loyal to a fault, willing to give his life for me and my family if need be. I will always miss him. Until we meet again, Blue, I love you.

Author Monday--With Sandy Blair

Today we welcome guest author Sandy Blair to Author Monday. Be sure to check out her contest link at the end of the post and her new book which will be released in print tomorrow.

TALES FROM THE CAVES #2: The Scot’s and mine

THE SCOT

For those who missed Tale #1, there’s a charming, loyal, witty but frugal 6 foot, 4 ½ inch Scot living in the basement. He calls it his man cave.

Awhile back I was up in my light and airy cave banging away on the computer tracking down pirated copies of my books when The Scot came in and placed a lovely green apple martini on my desk. Grinning, he said, “I heard you cursing up here and thought you could use this right about now.” How lovely was that?!

At dinner he says, “I have to tell you something but first you have to promise not to get mad.”  

Hmm. First he brings me a martini and now he has something to tell me? Knowing he’ll remain mute until I promise, I lie. “I promise.”

“You know your broken vacuum cleaner?”

He’s referring to the supposedly indestructible, half-ton Rikar I paid a small fortune for 5 years ago, which could once suck paint off walls, but was now held together with duct tape and refused to even turn on.

“Yes, what about it?”  I’m worried he’s done me a favor and brought the monster to the repair shop again. Not good, since I quietly gave myself a new Dyson for Christmas, (Woot!) my 20^th such device in our marriage, but my perchance for destroying vacuum cleaners is another story…

“Well,” he says, “I saw that old guy sitting outside his apartment tinkering again and thought he might be able to fix it.”

Oh crap. Now you have to understand…the Scot is an accountant. He’s hell on wheel when it comes to numbers but will break a light bulb off in the socket if he tries to change it. Subsequently, he’s fascinated by men who work with their hands, be they woodworkers, plumbers, mechanics…or in this case, a tinker. And the Scot is nothing if not frugal.

Fearing the worst, I wait. He says, “So I walked the vacuum over to him and told him he can have it.” He gives me a narrow-eyed look across the table. “I saw the bill for the Dyson.”

Oops! Did I mention I have a perchance for breaking vacuum cleaners?

“Anyway,” he continues as I turn scarlet, “I told him the Rikar’s a solid, expensive machine but has a broken switch, thinking he could fix it and make some money off it.”

Ah, reprieve!  “Aww, how sweet of you. It’s worth a good few dollars…if he can get it working again.”  The old man was forever under the hood of a battered pickup held together with wire and duct tape.

The Scot nodded. “Precisely what I was thinking after I learned how much the salesman said he’d give you as a trade-in toward a new Rikar.” (Which we both now knew was never going to happen in this lifetime.) “Anyway,” he continues, “an hour later I happen to drive by the old guy’s place and he had the vacuum in parts all over the yard.”

“So? He was fixing it.”

“No, he was reducing it to its smallest parts…to sell as scrap. That’s apparently what he does. He didn’t understand its intrinsic value. That if he’d fixed the switch---or whatever--he could have sold it for hundreds. All he saw when I gave it to him was the value of its steel and copper wire.” Scott shook his head and sighed. “Now he’ll only make a couple of dollars from it…and I’ve learned some people only know what they know. That some don’t see potential…can’t see beyond their experience.”

“I’m sorry, honey.”

Looking sad, he muttered, “Me, too.”

The Scot…one in a million.

HER CAVE:  

To celebrate the June 5^th print release of my 1285 Scotland-set historical, The King’s Mistress, I’m running a special contest and giving away EIGHT really great prizes. For details and prize list click on http://www.sandyblair.net/contest.shtm     

I hope you enjoy my new Highlander tale based on actual events.

So do any of you tend to break stuff?

Sandy

Thanks for being here and sharing a bit of your life with us, Sandy. If you haven't ready Sandy's books, you've missed a real treat. Be sure to pick up a copy of The King's Mistress, and also look for her previous books. You can find them all at Amazon. 

Happy Birthday to Me! The Best Gift.

Crime Author RJ Parker read and reviewed Lone Star Justice. Those of you who know me well know that Allison Brennan is one of my favorite authors, one of those authors whose books I buy as soon as they're released. Read what RJ said about Lone Star Justice, and you'll see why his review absolutely made my day.

5.0 out of 5 stars A HEART-WARMING SUSPENSE ROMANCE, June 1, 2012

By 

RJ Parker "Author" (Toronto) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lone Star Justice (Kindle Edition)

LONE STAR JUSTICE by prolific western/romance writer, Tori Scott is one of my favorite stories. I only recently stumbled across this author and I find her writing is along the same caliber as the amazing Allison Brennan. I recently read and reviewed Tori's Blame it on Texas and Blue Moon Over Texas (Lone Star Cowboys) and really enjoyed them. I like this author so much that I after just finishing this book, today I started Superstition (Team Indigo).


Madelyn Cooper and Rand McCade were friends and lovers in their teens. At 18, Madelyn got pregnant and before she had a chance to tell Rand, she was blackmailed by the local doctor to get out of town and to never return.


Her daughter Brandy, is now 14, and Madelyn has excelled in her career and is now a Judge. She also has a stalker who is threatening her and Brandy. Maddie and Brandy leaves the city and returns to her old hometown to get away from the threat. Rand is now Sheriff of Greendale and upon finding out that he is a dad, he vows to keep his family safe.


The author created three of the most lovable characters in Maddie, Rand and Brandy and an excellent story as well. This book has romance, suspense, mystery and a heart-warming ending...what more could you ask for in a novel.