Tomorrow, I will launch my blog tour and will post each stop to my site daily. I look forward to introducing the different aspects of this book to everyone!!! So, join me on the tour for some fun, and who knows, maybe there will even be some giveaways!!
The theme this week seems to be focused on patience. I loved this quote from Warren Buffett.
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Here’s a wonderful short meditation to give a focused and positive start to the day and week.
I was drawn back to the runes today for a reading. It’s been a while.
Photo by Jan Sikes
The rune in the past position is Perthro (Perdhro). It is considered to be the most mysterious of all the runes as scholars cannot agree on a clear meaning. In a rune cast, this rune often indicates something hidden that is about to come to light. It can also indicate that things are not as they seem. Perthro is associated with divination and the use of the runes as a means of discovering hidden knowledge. You are advised to pay attention to the signs and signals your intuition is picking up on.
In the middle, we have Ansuz which is the rune of communication, especially verbal. Messages, advice, or new information may be coming from external sources. Or, perhaps you are being asked to pay closer attention to the messages coming from your higher self. This certainly plays off the first rune about something which is hidden coming to light.
In the future position is Elhaz, which is the rune of defense and protection. It has a built-in protective force that discourages negative influences from affecting your personal experience. You are safe from danger but don’t take that for granted by being reckless with your actions. The strong message from this rune is, as long as you stay clear-minded, alert, and in touch with your intuition, you are headed for a positive outcome.
My Takeaway:
Not everything about a situation is known but if we pay attention and stay focused the truth will come to light and possibly in the form of communication, whether it be verbal or written. We are protected and can expect a positive outcome if we stay alert and clear.
I bought this book because of the setting. The Isle of Skye is fascinating to me and any story set there attracts me. And I was not disappointed. It is a love story like none other and a wonderful prequel to the Clan of Dragons series. The improbability of a huge black dragon and tiny woodland fairy falling in love is huge. But that’s exactly what happens in this story. Duff is a dragon. Robina is a tiny fairy. But when using her magic, they are able to shift into human form, and they fall deeply and eternally in love. Robina tries to return to her fairy home after making love to Duff but finds her heart is empty and torn. Then when her mother reveals a huge dark secret, it sets Robina free. I loved everything about this story from the powerful, but lonely dragon to the tiny and magical fairy. I look forward to the rest of this series.
Wow! I read this book in one sitting. I had to find the answers to Brad and Cara’s disappearance. But then when I did, I reeled with the shock of the truth. This story has all the things to keep a reader engaged. A missing twin brother, a haunted forest, rumors galore, and people turning up dead who dare to share any information. This author created a creepy and sinister atmosphere that transported me directly into that thick and dark forest along with Dan and his father, as they embarked on a mission to find out what had happened to Brad and Cara ten years earlier. Throw an ancient and evil alien into the mix and you have adventure galore! The twist the story took at the end had me gasping. The characters are multi-dimensional, the writing superb and the story gripping. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great tale!
I have to be honest, it took me a couple of tries to finally get into this book enough to read it. And when I did, I couldn’t believe the horrors that were inflicted on the Osage Indian tribe. When the United States government forced the tribe onto reservation land in Oklahoma, they had no idea they were forcing them onto huge oil deposits. Once it was discovered in the early 1900s, the Osage became the richest Indian tribe in North America. But because of the way the government still viewed Indians, they were not given control of their money. Instead, they assigned guardians. The story is based around one Osage woman’s family. Mollie Burkhurt had two sisters and a mother. The story begins with the murder of her younger sister, Anna. A single bullet to the back of the head. Then over time, other murders occurred until the only member left of her family was Mollie herself. There was now a total of 24 Osage murders and not one case solved. J. Edgar Hoover had just taken over the newly formed Federal Bureau of Investigation. When the huge number of murders gained his attention, he recruited Tom White, a former Texas Ranger to head the investigation. It took several years, but the corruption at every level of government was exposed along with the man behind all the murders. The motive was money and control. This is not an easy story to read and in fact, I found it quite tedious at times, but it recounts a time in American history that deserves to be told. Kudos to David Grann for telling it in such precise detail. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into research for this exposé. And I have heard they are in the process of making this story into a movie.
What a fun read! Carly is laser-focused on making her summertime business a success. When she’s not serving her delicious ice cream to patrons, she’s creating new flavors to tempt their palates. And what a great location! Her ice cream hut sits on the beach in Southern California, and long lines are common. She has no time or interest in love. She tried it once and got burned. Never again. The humiliation of the broken engagement still stings, even after a year. She wasn’t good enough for Declan (or so his mother proclaimed.) The story opens with Carly bartending at a bachelorette party as a favor to a friend. She’s anxious to try out her new alcohol/ice cream concoctions, which are an instant hit. The male strippers hired for the party are dressed as firemen. So, it’s no wonder Carly had her doubts when real firefighters showed up. Sparks flew, but she would never date a fireman again. Her father and brother are both firemen. It’s too dangerous. No, never a fireman. But when circumstances throw her and Noah together in a fake boyfriend, girlfriend scenario, neither are prepared to fall in love. This is a quick read with fantastic scenery and delicious ice cream melting under the spell of Noah Blaze.
This book is different from anything I’ve ever read. Occasionally, I thought to myself, “this is too far-fetched to be believable,” then the next thought I’d have would send me deeper into the story. Is it possible for two people to die at the same time and switch bodies when one is resuscitated? Maybe. But I’ll start from the romance aspect of the story. Leeds had money. He didn’t need to work, but he loved music so took a gig playing bass in a band that he hated their music. When they land a job playing a wedding, Leeds’ life changes forever. The sister of the bride captivates him completely. Layla is fresh, honest, uninhibited, and pushes every boundary. Months into their relationship, an incident changes both of them forever. So, when Leeds decides to go back to where their love first bloomed, at the house where the wedding had been, weird and unexplained things begin to happen. He wants so desperately to salvage the love he has for Layla, but she’s changed. She’s not the same girl and he grows farther away from her. Enters Willow. Willow is a ghost trapped in a realm she cannot get out of. But there’s something hauntingly familiar about Willow and when she takes over Layla’s body so she can communicate with Leeds, he feels the old spark he used to feel for Layla. I won’t spoil how all of this got worked out, but it is intense and I might have caught myself holding my breath a time or two. Different? YES! But a great story I couldn’t stop reading! If you like stretching your mind beyond all your normal limits and boundaries, this might be the story for you!
Lily Catherine Brownfield has suffered so much in her young life. As the book opens, she is in the hospital recovering from a horrible car crash that leaves her disfigured. Her shallow fiance takes one look at her face and immediately turns away in disgust. When she gave him back the ring, I wanted her to stuff it down his arrogant throat. She’s recuperating in her beach cottage when a newspaper blows across the pristine sand. She chases it until she retrieves the trash. But then her curiosity is piqued when she sees the newspaper is from Oklahoma, and for the lack of anything better to do, she puts it back together and reads it. But it’s a classified ad that draws her attention. A cook is wanted for a three-month round-up on an Oklahoma ranch. Maybe this is exactly what Lily needs, to get away from the awful memories of the car crash and breakup. She makes a call without realizing it’s the middle of the night two time zones over. A sleepy male voice answers and she inquires about the job. He hires her sight unseen. Case Longren just needs someone to cook for the cowboys during round-up. He’s beyond shocked when beautiful blonde-haired Lily arrives to fill the position. It is inevitable that the two of them get together, but it’s a long road. Lily’s mistrust of all men keeps him at arm’s length. After all, how could anyone look at the horrible scar on her face and not be disgusted? She is every time she looks in the mirror. To say it took some work to break through her icy barriers is an understatement. But with a lot of help from mother nature and near-death close calls, she begins to melt. I loved Lily’s father and brothers. They were all such unique characters. This is a fun read and satisfying love story with a great ending.
It’s been a while since I posted a review of one of my sister’s books, but this story captured my heart from the first page. Sam Legend Jr is a conflicted man. He’s left his prestigious family and is living like a hermit in a primitive dwelling. His only passion left in life is making knives. That is until Cheyenne Ronan bursts into the dwelling and threatens his life. The attraction between the two is a slow burn and it takes a while for Sam to forgive himself for the death of his wife and accept a new love. There is lots of action and lots of memorable characters in this story. Watching it unfold is like watching a flower open under the sun. If you love romance set in the 1800s, you will love this story. If you love flawed characters, you will love this story, as both Sam and Cheyenne have their secrets. I highly recommend it to anyone who just loves a well-written and compelling character-driven story!
Another compelling installment in Emlyn’s journey! This segment of the story begins on a slower note with Gethin and the gift of a powerful sword. Then it moves swiftly back to Pergesca where we left Emlyn, Osabide, and Zasha in Journey 10. Throughout this segment, perhaps more so than the others, Emlyn grows stronger and more confident in her powers. I loved the introduction of new characters, as well as the reuniting of the old. When Zasha goes before the High Council of The Deae Matres to warn of the dangers coming, I was somewhat surprised by the political structure of the council. I had expected it to be made up of people like the Deae Matres we have been traveling with through these novelettes. Not the case. Just that scenario brings a touch of reality into this fantasy story and I can see the resemblance of our government. What I love most about Journey 11 is the way the author brought me into the story through her excellent descriptive scenes. The clothes they wore, the food that ate, the way the city appeared—I was there! I also love how Emlyn creates and holds a portal with little help from Luce. A great part of the story!!
That’s it for this month. I hope you found a book you cannot pass up!
Hi, everyone. I love sharing these gemstone posts with you so much and the piece I’m highlighting today is one of my favorites!
My piece of Pink Tourmaline in Quartz is about 3″ long and 2″ wide and is just absolutely gorgeous! I photographed both sides of the stone because each is equally beautiful.
Photo by Jan Sikes – Pink Tourmaline in Quartz
Pink Tourmaline encourages an influx of love, joy, and happiness to fill your life. It has a beautiful energy that vibrates within both the heart chakra and the higher heart chakra. The vibration of this lovely crystal will help to bring back your passion for living. This lovely pink crystal is high in lithium. This inclusion of lithium is known to help emotional and mood-related problems such as depression anxiety and stress.
Deposits of this color of Tourmaline have been found in Afghanistan, Africa, Brazil, and the United States, with some of the best stones coming from California.
Not only does the Pink Tourmaline promote emotional healing, but it also helps balance a dysfunctional endocrine system, treats the heart, lungs, and skin. Placed on the heart brings an immediate sense of relaxation and peace.
It carries a strong feminine or yin vibration and is known to kindle feelings of joy, hope, comfort, and support. Its vibration also encourages a more cheerful frame of mind and helps you to rise above feelings of misery and sorrow. When it is used in meditation it commonly makes a strong connection within the highest chakra in the body, located at the crown.
Mixed with the quartz, it is just an all-around beautiful stone and works exceptionally well when combined with Rhodocrosite, Rhodonite, and Rose Quartz.
Now, it’s your turn. Do you have this stone? If so, what do you think of it?
Happy Monday, everyone. I am thrilled to report that I am about 98% recovered from my tangle with COVID, thank goodness!! I appreciate all the well-wishes, prayers, and positive vibes you sent my way. I loved this quote from William Faulkner. It made me pause and think for a minute.
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A beautiful meditation to help jumpstart the day!
The Tarot reading for this week is hopeful and solid.
Photo by Jan Sikes
The keywords for The Sun from the Major Arcana are: Positivity, fun, warmth, success, and vitality. You don’t know what a welcome sight this card is! If you are going through a difficult time (I certainly have been), The Sun brings you the message you have been waiting for: that things will get better, a lot better! Hallelujah! The Sun connects you to your power base – not fear-driven, egotistical power, but the abundant, inner energy radiating through you right now. You’ll sense it in your Solar Plexus chakra, calling you to express yourself authentically and be fully present in the world around you.
The King of Cups represents a balance of emotions, creativity, and the unconscious. When this card turns up in a Tarot reading, you have gained control of your feelings and can accept them without allowing them to get the better of you. Even when life throws you a curveball, you can draw on your emotional maturity and stability to help you navigate these challenges. You don’t let things get to you, and you steer clear of the drama, instead choosing an emotionally balanced and calm approach.
The Nine of Pentacles speaks of financial independence. The woman in this card has created a luxurious lifestyle by her own actions and efforts. She encourages you to do the same – to create abundance and independence so that you can take care of yourself in the long term. Invest wisely and seek financial advice to make the most of your wealth. Don’t rely on others to support you; this Nine is an independent woman. While the suit of Pentacles typically focuses on material wealth and gain, this card also suggests that you are in harmony with the environment around you. You appreciate the beauty and abundance found in nature, and you can harness this high-vibe energy to bring pleasure into your life.
My Takeaway:
What a welcome sight, these cards are. From the sun shining and bringing new vitality and creativity, to the emotionally balanced King of Cups and the secure and independent woman, this is a super positive reading and it reflects what I feel inside. I do not mean to downplay COVID. It’s a horrible nasty virus and it knocked me down hard. But, as the old saying goes, “it’s not how many times you get knocked down, it’s how you choose to get back up.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these cards today and hope they bring a ray of sunshine to your week!
There is nothing I can say about this Dragon Card, except that it is gorgeous!
I am excited to welcome Linda Nightingale to my blog site. And while Linda is a new author to me, she is not new to the writing game, having published over fifteen books! She is here today to talk about her brand new Contemporary Western Romance, The Texas Cowboy. She had me at Texas and Cowboy! Take it away, Linda.
Thanks for having me as a guest on your blog, Jan. I appreciate you sharing your space with me.
It’s almost rodeo time in Houston, and traffic around the NRG Stadium crawls to a stop. Since 2003, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (RodeoHouston) has been held at NRG. HLSR is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world and offers the richest purses. Kickoff is marked by the Downtown Rodeo Roundup held near Houston City Hall, the Downtown Rodeo parade, and the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run – a 10k and 5k walk & run and the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest (the Chili Cookoff, which is a major event in HLSR each year). I always wanted to participate in the Downtown Rodeo Parade. Since 1938, the nation’s fourth-largest city is transformed from a bustling metropolis to a down-home celebration of Western heritage. Decorative floats intermingle with thousands of men and women on horseback to fill the streets with hoof beats and marching bands. This year, the parade begins at Bagby and Walker Streets.
In 2019, there were more than 2.5 million total attendees during the 24-day event, and HLSR was proud to welcome visitors from 75 countries. The livestock and horse shows drew more than 34,000 entries, and the junior auction sales totaled more than $17 million. Incidentally, 376,000 Oreos were battered, fried, and dusted with powdered sugar. The rodeo has drawn some of the world’s biggest recording artists, including Dixie Chicks, Elvis Presley, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Bon Jovi, and Lynyrd Skynyrd to mention a few. When I lived in Houston, I attended several times. Once, I saw the Zach Brown Band in concert. This year look for Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, For King and Country, and many more. This link lists the entertainers: https://www.rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Music-Concerts/Concert-Lineup
In The Texas Cowboy, there are several mentions of RodeoHouston. Charlie, a supporting character, was a bronc rider, and he rode in HLSR. Charlie is the ranch foreman. The hero Ash Colter gives him carte blanche to entertain his ex-girlfriend while she is on a surprise visit from England, and that’s where Book Two, The Cowboy Duke, is born. Can an English Duchess make a Texas cowboy’s spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle? The Cowboy Duke tells us (in my humble opinion).
Drop by my website http://LindaNightingale.com and check out my books. Each has a page describing the story and giving reviews, book videos, etc. as well as buy-links. There are also two free reads.
Let’s all go to RodeoHouston! I want to be present and accounted for at the Chili Cookoff. It’s not just chili, but beef brisket, music, and even impromptu dancing. It’s a party, RodeoHouston-style.
BOOK BLURB:
When Ash Colter was twelve, his mother divorced his cattle baron father and whisked him away to raise in her native England. Sixteen years later, when his father dies, he inherits Marathon Ranch. Running a 1,000-acre spread famous for the best Black Angus cattle in the great state of Texas is the biggest challenge he’s ever faced…until he meets a pert, pretty, and sassy ranch hand who seems to have her own agenda for his ranch. Unfortunately, she makes his spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle like no one else ever has!
Trish Owens is a real cowgirl, a loner, and, though she’d never admit it, a little lonely. When the “English Cowboy” appears on the scene, her entire way of life is threatened, not only her job but her beloved Quarter horses. She’s sure he plans to import his thoroughbreds from England. Worse of all is the chemistry sizzling between them. He makes feelings she thought long dead awaken.
Can these two unwilling allies set aside their differences to put Marathon Ranch in the Winner’s Circle…and to fall in love?
Finally, when he was almost blind from straining his eyes, the stand of oaks Charlie had mentioned reared up out of the torrential rain. A horse trumpeted, the sound echoing, and Pomegranate answered with a force that shook Ash in the saddle. Relief flooded him. He cued his horse into a faster canter. It was a risky bid for a few minutes, but by now desperation had become a fever.
“Charlie? Charlie, is that you?” Trish shouted to be heard above the storm. “I’m here by the water oaks. Charlie!”
Pomegranate slid to a halt at the edge of the stand of trees. At first glance, Ash could only see Dusty, gleaming wetly in the flashlight beam. A bedraggled Trish struggled up from beside the palomino. His heart wrenched at the sight of her. He swung from the saddle and, looping the reins over his arm, aimed the flashlight and rushed toward her. He was still annoyed and frowning, but thrilled and relieved to see her. Relief won in the end, and he smiled broadly, rain washing over his lips.
“Trish, thank God.” He tried to curb the emotion in his voice but failed.
She tossed him a smile. “Damn, if I’m not glad to see you, cowboy.”
His cowgirl with wet hair clinging to her face and sodden clothes was…beautiful, even in the rain. She gripped a cotton rope tied to a blue nylon halter fastened over Dusty’s bridle. One thing for sure, her horse wasn’t going anywhere without her. She’d probably stopped when the young stallion spooked at the lightning. Taking shelter was the right decision. Otherwise, they could have both been seriously injured, Dusty’s leg broken…or perhaps Trish injured in a fall. The dripping trees had provided scant protection. The cowgirl and her racehorse were drenched and a bit muddy but, thank goodness, neither was harmed.
He cupped her face between index finger and thumb. “You’re a sight for sore eyes yourself, cowgirl. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
She settled the slick leather of the reins and the sodden cotton lead rope securely in her grip. “Stay close. He’s more than a little spooked by the thunder and lightning. That’s why I stopped. Have you ever seen anything like this rain! I was afraid we’d drown.”
“It’s a gutter washer, as your buddy Charlie called it.” Through the rain, he gazed into her eyes. “He’s very worried about you, Trish.”
“How about you?” She met his gaze, daring him to look away…or to lie. “Are you worried about me?”
“I wouldn’t be standing here in this balmy little sprinkle if I weren’t.”
There was a noticeable pause before she said, “I’m starved. I don’t suppose you have servants back there in the darkness with a four-course meal or something.”
He turned, fishing in the saddlebags behind his saddle. “How about some fine cheese crackers as a starter, ma’am?”
After 14 years in Texas, Linda returned home to her roots in the South Carolina red clay. She has eight published novels, four of which are available in audio from Audible.com. For many years, she bred, trained, and showed the magnificent Andalusian horses. So, she’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. She won The Georgia Romance Writers’ Magnolia Award for Excellence, the Raven Award, and the SARA Merritt. In real life, she was a legal assistant. She loves to dress up, use the good china and crystal, and host formal dinner parties. She has a fondness for sports cars like her current ride, Zippy Z
Linda Nightingale has contacted me via Facebook messenger and asked me to send her apologies along to everyone. She has no internet connection and is unable to get logged into WordPress to respond to all of your beautiful comments. She can see them, but cannot comment and is very distraught because of the techie glitch. Please know she appreciates all the shares and comments! Thank you!
As release day for Jagged Feathers draws near, I just want to remind everyone that the Goodreads Giveaway is still going on for a few more days! It costs absolutely nothing to enter, and you have until January 25th. We are giving away 100 copies. One could be yours!
Also, if you missed my Top Ten Books from 2021, Here’s a video recap for your viewing pleasure!
Sorry, but even though there are Purchase Links on the video slides, I realized later I should have removed them, as they are not live links. I have listed purchase links below.
I’d love it if you’d like and share the video from YouTube!! Thank you!
As most of you know, I’ve been ill. I tested negative for COVID but I am convinced what I’ve been dealing with is some form of the nasty virus. At any rate, today’s post is all just for me and I hope you get some good out of it as well. I do want to tell you on Wednesday when I was first getting sick and had a fever, I took my pieces of Black Tourmaline and Shungite to the bed with me and I believe with all my heart, they helped pull out the fever during the night.
Now for a healing meditation.
I feel that the tarot reading is especially for me, but again, I hope it resonates with at least a few.
Photo by Jan Sikes
Thank goodness the Eight of Swords sits in the past position as it indicates a feeling of helplessness. I can relate to that as the virus attacked my body, it was a struggle to keep my mind positive and not feel like a helpless victim. While being limited by circumstances, it did not mean I had to succumb to negative thinking patterns. Remember, that’s always a choice.
Interesting that the Two of Cups in the present position carries the Cadeceus, the universal symbol for medicine. In this reading, to me, the card represents accepting help from someone else, or consulting an expert to aid in healing. It can also represent two lovers or a partnership. Two of Cups is a sign you are both on the same wavelength and share a similar vision for the venture you are creating together. You may not have the same skills as each other, but you create a beautiful synergy when you work together. A friend of mine introduced me to Chaga Mushrooms, bringing a packet and leaving it on my door. I believe it is aiding in my healing process.
The Six of Swords symbolizes a state of transition, leaving behind what was familiar and moving towards the unknown. This change may be your own doing or forced upon you, and you may feel sad to leave behind what is so familiar to you. It invites you to gaze ahead to your future and choose the way most in alignment with your Highest Good and long-term potential. You will need to make tough decisions and compromises along the way; see it as a rite of passage. One of the most significant aspects of this card is the fact that the woman and child in the boat are not alone and not having to work to reach their destination.
My takeaway: Circumstances in life are often going to place us in a position of feeling helpless or like a victim, but always remember your thoughts about the circumstance are your choice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in healing and remember you are never alone on this journey. There is an entire galactic team with us at all times and can only help when we ask.
Your thoughts? Make it a great week, no matter life’s circumstances.
This dragon card ignites the creativity inside each of us! Isn’t it gorgeous?
Thank you, Jan, for allowing me to visit here and introduce my new book to your followers. I am most grateful.
When I wrote A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME, I was practicing as a divorce attorney. I represented both men and women on all sorts of terms. Although it wasn’t as true in the county where I practiced in Pennsylvania, in issues of custody, men often think they get the short end of the stick.
Now sometimes they do! Don’t get me wrong. But courts these days have mostly moved forward from the 1960s when mom got the house and the kids and dads got alimony and child support, Often the courts lean toward some sort of joint custody, Courts are urged by precedent to consider the needs of the individual families when making custody awards. Alimony is given much less frequently, and child support is most often calculated on a standard state formula, taking many things into consideration.
Single parenthood is certainly not something one sets out to do, but many, many people—myself included—have found ourselves there. It’s difficult, no matter what your particular configuration is. It’s tied to the emotions of the relationship, even years afterward. This is where our heroine and hero find themselves.
In A Rose By Any Other Name, Marisol’s husband ran out on her, leaving her as the single parent to a young son. She has survived on her own and is vocal about the challenges and joys of that situation on her blog, Mothering Without a Man. Russell thought he had it all, but his ex-wife’s wealth bought her sole custody of his sons, and he’s fighting every inch of the way to maintain his relationship with them.
If the book was a courtroom, maybe we could solve this conundrum permanently. But since it isn’t, we get to revisit the relationship between Marisol and Russell and see what a second chance might bring them.
Up-and-coming mommyblogger and single mom Marisol Herrera Slade returns to her old hometown in western Pennsylvania for her 20th high school reunion in 2005, reluctant and yet compelled to see her high school sweetheart, Russell Asher, who dumped her for the homecoming queen.
Russell’s marriage to the golden girl, however, ended in a nasty divorce, and he has been systematically excluded from his sons’ lives. In his Internet wanderings, he’s found a feminist blogger named Jerrika Jones, who glorifies single motherhood, essentially putting a stamp of approval on what’s happened to him. His group of single dad advocates has vowed to take this woman down.
What Russell doesn’t know, when he thinks to rekindle what he had with Marisol, is that Marisol and Jerrika are one and the same. When his group discovers the truth, will their drive for revenge derail any chance the couple has to reunite? Or will they find they have more in common than they ever expected?
Author Bio:
Author Alana Lorens
Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years, after working as a pizza maker, a floral designer, a journalist, and a family law attorney. Currently, a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, the aging hippie loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. She writes romance and suspense as Alana Lorens, and sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal mystery as Lyndi Alexander. One of her novellas, THAT GIRL’S THE ONE I LOVE, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter on the autism spectrum, who is the youngest of her seven children, and she is ruled by three crotchety old cats, and six kittens of various ages.
Welcome to a Wednesday Wonder! I am going to reduce these posts to every other week, for some time management, but I will continue to share the amazing world of minerals that come from our Mother Earth.
Today, I’m sharing a fairly new piece I acquired — Shungite.
I wanted to get more than one view of the pyramid, but there is no gold on it at all, that was a light reflection through the window blinds. Pretty cool, though, I so left it.
The origin of Shungite is a mystery. Typically, materials made of carbon come from decayed organic substances like old forests. But the stone is thought to be at least 2 billion years old. This is before organic life existed on the planet.
Some theories of Shungite’s origins include:
a large meteorite collided into Earth and deposited shungite into the ground
shungite formed due to microorganisms in nearby water
the composition of organic matter in sedimentary rocks changed over time
Although scientists are unsure of how Shungite was formed or where it came from, they attribute the stone’s potential benefits to its fullerene content.
Fullerenes, which are found in Shungite, are a type of carbon nanostructure (CNS). CNSs are different physical forms of carbon.
According to a 2017 review of studiesTrusted Source, CNSs can destroy harmful pathogens. They reportedly work by damaging the cell walls of bacteria and viruses. Additionally, when CNSs interact with microbes, the microbes lose electrons and die.
However, it’s unclear what this means for human disease. More studies are needed to understand how the fullerenes in Shungite can specifically affect pathogens.
Since I feel like I am getting sick, you can be assured I’m taking this piece to my bedroom tonight along with the Black Tourmaline. I DO NOT have time to be sick!
Since ancient times, Shungite has been used to purify water. This is due to its alleged activity against bacteria and viruses.
In the above-mentioned 2017 animal study, Shungite was found to reduce inflammation. The researchers measured lower levels of inflammatory markers, including cytokines, or proteins involved in inflammation.
Users of Shungite say the stone has the ability to shield you from EMF emissions. According to anecdotal reports, Shungite is helpful for relieving stress. It’s believed to soak up negative energy and balance emotions.
So, as I said, you can bet I will be taking my Shungite Pyramid to bed with me tonight along with the Black Tourmaline and hope they can draw whatever is trying to attack my body out!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the post!
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