Once in awhile I love a good short story. I want a story I can read in one sitting and have it impact me in a big way. WHITEOUT was that kind of read for me. I picked this one because we are having some of our first snow of the season, so it seemed appropriate.

Available at Amazon and other retailers.

Lost in a world of white, I lay. Pain and cold were my only companions. How long would it take me to die? Would the cold freeze my heart and stop its beating? A red plastic sled saved the day. A woman saved my life. Unfortunately, saving my life might cost Grace her own. We get one day together, Christmas day, one day of bliss among misery. Too soon the tree is down and all that’s left of the cinnamon biscuits are crumbs. The people who want me dead come back to see their task complete. I didn’t have a plan, but Grace did.
Never trust a woman with a shotgun.

This story had a really unique opening, wonderfully developed with a great twist. When I find myself wanting to know more, to stay with the characters of a story, I love the feeling. The characters are brilliantly drawn, and leave the reader wanting more, even though the story was satisfying.

It’s less than a month into the new year, and I’ve decided to set my goals for the year. I never do it on New Year’s Day, because then it’s a resolution. I’m the girl who has so many goals whirling around in her head that she can’t figure out where to start, so she just doesn’t. Well, not anymore!

Goals! How to Get Everything You Want taught me how to prioritize my goals, and just what to expect. The important part of goal setting, is to learn to break the larger goals into smaller pieces. And for the first time in my life, I have a clear path and a concrete set of goals.

I also used to keep my goals private, not wanting anyone to poo-poo them, but this year I sat down with my husband and explained to him what my number one goal was, and how I planned to achieve it. His response, “Let me know if I can do anything to help.” Now that was not what I expected. Maybe I should have shared my goals years ago? Hahaha.

So I’m on my way, and by this time next year, I will have achieved a huge goal that I’ve finally put on paper. What about you? How do you set and achieve your goals? Need help defining and achieving? Try this book from Brian Tracy! For the wicked low Kindle price, you can’t go wrong.

  I have to confess, I’m  a sucker for any book with a racehorse on the cover. I grew up galloping racehorses at a bush track where I boarded my horses as a kid. I also come from 3 generations of racehorse owners and trainers on both sides of my family. And my barrel racing horse (now retired) came off the track Los Alamitos in SoCal.

When I saw Bev’s book was one of the 99 cent books on the www.bookloversbuffet.com, it was the first book I bought. I have to say, it’s going to rank with my favorite books that include racehorses. Bev’s knowledge of the racetrack shines through in her novel, and the characters are so real, and sympathetic. I had to be torn away from reading. My heart ached for horses (Country Girl) as well as the people.

I’m starting Color My Horse next. I can’t wait.

Description from Amazon:

Racehorse trainer, Kurt MacKinnon, resents being yanked into undercover police work. But when his ex-partner is murdered, Kurt is determined to find the killer and moves his third-string Thoroughbreds to the backwater track where his partner was last seen alive.

Julie West, a struggling and dedicated jockey, pins her dreams of an elusive win on the new trainer in town, never suspecting she’s a person of interest—and not because of her riding skills.

Kurt didn’t expect his contrary colt to flourish under Julie’s feminine touch nor for his own rusty heart to soften. However, his deceit sucks them both into the cross hairs of a killer, and suddenly much more than their love is in danger.

CONTAINS excerpt of Kindle Bestseller “Color My Horse” by Bev Pettersen

Death of a Cantankerous Old Coot  is a great mystery novella by Teresa Watson.

I was lucky enough to read this story as it was being posted on Teresa’s blog, and then as a beta reader.

A mystery with enough twists and turns that you will be eager to get to the end to see “who-done-it.”

Someone has killed Amos Gardner, one of the leading citizens of Brookdale, though not exactly everyone’s favorite citizen. The sheriff wonders if it has something to do with the lawsuit Amos filed against his own granddaughter, Lizzie Crenshaw. When someone tries to kill Amos’ wife, she points the finger at Lizzie, who must work with the new deputy to figure out what is going on before she is either thrown in jail…or becomes a victim herself.

Give this novella a try, and you’ll by looking forward to Teresa Watson’s next story.