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Coming Home to Magnolia Bay - Release Tour and Giveaway

8/26/2023

86 Comments

 
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​People and pets find their forever homes in this charming small-town romance  

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Coming Home to Magnolia Bay
Welcome to Magnolia Bay Book 3
by Babette De Jongh
Genre: Small Town Contemporary Romance 

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People and pets find their forever homes in this charming small-town romance from Babette de Jongh featuring:

*A single mom doing her best
*Her young son who needs a helping hand
*An animal trainer who might be the answer to their troubles
*A bustling animal rescue where everyone gets a second chance
*The magic of humans who know how to communicate with animals

Sara Prescott’s eight-year-old son Max wants a dog. But their apartment doesn’t allow pets, and the divorced single mom can’t afford the certified seizure-alert dog Max needs. Instead, she and Max volunteer at the Furever Love Animal Shelter. Max forms a special bond with Jett, a big black bully breed and three-time loser who keeps getting dumped.

Animal Trainer Justin Reed comes back home to Magnolia Bay and visits the shelter to find a dog actor for a TV series set in nearby New Orleans. Justin chooses Jett, but the shelter’s director rejects his application because Jett needs a finally-forever home, not a job with an end date. The shelter’s resident animal communicator proposes a win-win. Justin can use Jett as an animal actor if he also trains Jett as a service dog for Max.

Sara and Justin have no business indulging their mutual attraction. Sara is focused on her son, and Justin will be leaving soon. But Max and Jett have other ideas…


**Only .99 cents! **
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​Jett’s leash was looped around a lamppost, preventing him from doing anything other than sitting, standing, lying down, and waiting.
Waiting, he knew, was the skill Justin wanted him to learn now. Jett already knew that he would have to be silent, patient, and watchful to go everywhere with Max and take care of him.
Reva had shown Jett mind pictures of what it would be like to sit beside Max all day at school, and Jett knew he could do that. He had already mastered the skill and was more than ready to learn the next thing, whatever that might be.
The only way he could communicate that to Justin was to demonstrate the ability.
Unfortunately, Jett really, really had to pee.
He’d been taught to only pee on grass or dirt, and neither of those surfaces existed as far as he could see. Concrete and cobblestone were the only two surfaces his feet had touched since Justin had clipped the leash to Jett’s collar and given a command Jett had never heard before: Voraus.
Jett didn’t know the sound, but he knew what Justin wanted, so he hopped out of the truck. Afterward, Justin took Jett on a short walk and gave a command Jett understood: Go Potty.
Justin gave the command several times, but he never took Jett to a patch of grass or dirt. The conflicting messages confused Jett. He didn’t want to make a mistake, so he decided it would be best to wait for Justin to take him to an appropriate surface for relieving himself.
But instead, Justin had taken him to meet many people—and some other creatures he had never seen before. Then Justin tied him to this lamppost to learn something he already knew how to do: Wait.
Was it part of Jett’s training to wait quietly while desperately needing to pee? Reva had shown Jett that he would have to sit quietly beside Max in school, but she hadn’t mentioned whether Max would take him to an appropriate potty surface beforehand.
Jett would have to ask Reva about that the next time she popped into his head.
After an eternity, Justin came back and unhooked Jett’s leash from the lamppost. “Good wait.” Justin gave Jett a quick head scratch. “You wanna go potty now?”
He most certainly did want to go potty. In fact, he needed to potty in the worst way. Not only to pee now but also to poop. Jett whined and gave a low tail wag.
“Okay, let’s go.” Justin followed that up with a different sound, “Foos.”
Whatever that meant.
But the slight tug on the leash meant that they were about to start walking, and Jett knew from his previous training that Justin expected Jett to walk beside him, leaving some slack in the leash and looking up often for cues of when to stop or change direction.
Justin walked a long way before he stopped at an anemic patch of short-clipped grass.
Jett squatted to release his full bladder. Normally, he would hike, but this situation had nothing to do with marking territory and everything to do with relieving himself. While he peed, he looked up at a cluster of tall, tree-like plants that bordered the grassy patch. The strange-looking plants had thick segmented trunks that clacked together in the warm breeze.
“Dude,” Justin said. “I’m sorry. I did ask if you needed to go before.”
Jett heard Justin making word-sounds, and he knew he should be paying attention in case any of them were commands, but as soon as he’d emptied his bladder, his next most pressing concern took over his mind, and he sniffed along the ground for a good place to poop.
It seemed clear from the many different scents that a multitude of different dogs had relieved themselves here in recent days. Some came back daily; others had only been here once or twice. Jett chose a spot that hadn’t been used multiple times by the same dog. He didn’t want to start any trouble.
Justin gathered Jett’s poops into a plastic bag and disposed of the bag in a nearby trash bin. The receptacle’s metal exterior smelled of many different urine markings made by canines, felines, and humans.
This, Jett decided, was a very strange place indeed.
They walked another long way past many interesting smells and sounds, and eventually wound up at a loud place where Justin met up with the people Jett had met earlier in the day. He recalled some of the names: Maria, the nice lady with the soft touch and hard voice, and Hank, the man whose big personality was encased in a thick protective energy field.
A big black dog was lying on the ground next to Hank.
“Otis,” Justin said, “meet Jett.” The dog stood and greeted Jett politely, his eyes soft, his tail wagging low and friendly. “Jett, this is Otis. You’ll be working together.”
“God, Mutt.” The small woman pounded Justin’s arm. “You’re such a hoot.”
The two dogs exchanged polite sniffs at both ends of their bodies, and then Otis allowed Jett to lick his muzzle in a show of subservience.
Though Jett was the slightly bigger dog, he paid homage to the older dog whose turf he had invaded. Jett knew that Otis had been here longer because Otis and the place carried many of the same scents while Jett still carried the scent of the animal shelter, even though he’d been given a bath.
Delicious scents were carried on the wind, swirling around the large, umbrella-covered tables where the people had gathered. Otis and Jett were told to lie down under the table and wait.
Otis was also good at waiting.
Without words, Otis showed Jett some of the things they would be doing over the coming days. He showed how the animals in this strange community performed commands while some of the people stood around and watched and other humans ran around in a state of quiet chaos.
None of it made much sense.
Otis agreed with Jett’s sentiment because there were no visible changes to the environment as a result of their actions. But the people were all very happy when the animals followed the commands given by Justin and Paula, who worked together to tell the animals what to do and when to do it.
Otis showed Jett that the work would be fun and interesting and that they would be rewarded in many ways. One of the rewards, according to Otis, was shrimp.
Jett didn’t know shrimp. He put his head on his paws and sent a sideways glance to Otis.
“Shrimp.” Otis sent the word-sound into Jett’s mind again. “It will be our turn soon.”
The people above them consumed food that smelled so good, Jett’s mouth filled with saliva and spilled over. He had never tasted anything but dry kibble in his life—unless he counted the one time he’d raided the trash can and been punished severely by his human, and then later by his intestines.
If the food being passed around on the table above them tasted as good as it smelled, he would do just about anything, even gladly suffer the pain afterward, to earn a morsel or two.
Jett and Otis continued to lie quietly until Justin pushed his chair back from the table and commanded both dogs to sit. He used a slightly different-sounding pronunciation: “Sitz.”
Justin held a pinkish curl of meat between his fingers. “Otis, this one’s for you.” He held the thing in front of Otis’s mouth. “Take it.” Then he gave a new command that sounded like “nimbi.”
When Otis took the morsel and bit down on it, the scent of the treat burst all around them.
Jett sat as still as he could, even though anticipation quivered through him. Justin reached for something on the table. Jett watched, hoping…hoping…hoping… Then Justin held the curled pink treat in front of Jett’s nose. “Jett, this one’s yours.”
It was his turn.
Jett wanted to leap and snap up the shiny shrimp. His front feet wanted to lift off the ground, but he kept them pinned in place. He couldn’t stop from shifting his weight first to one foot, then the other. One, then the other. One, then the other.
Then Justin said the magic words: “Take it.” And “Nimbi.”
Carefully, gently, Jett received the curled pink offering into his mouth, making sure that only his lips—not his teeth—touched Justin’s fingers.
And oooh, that taste, that succulent taste. That taste made sure that Jett would remember the two new commands take it and nimbi.
Justin held out another shrimp to Otis. This time, he only said “Nimbi.”
Jett watched and waited, his whole body quivering with the knowledge that he would soon be given another of those glistening pink morsels.
Jett knew that his current mission in life was to learn the things he had to know so he could take care of Max. He had expected it to be difficult. He had expected it to take a long time. He had expected it to take all of his focus, all of his discipline, all of his motivation to succeed.
He hadn’t expected to enjoy himself. He hadn’t expected to be immersed in such a rich world of sights, sounds, and smells. He hadn’t expected his first lesson to be about shrimp and take it and nimbi.
Justin dipped his fingers in a bowl that smelled like lemons, then wiped his hands on a big square of cloth. He stroked Jett’s head with lemon-scented hands and praised him for being such a good dog. “You think you might like being here with me after all, Jett?”
Jett put his head on Justin’s knee and gazed up at his new best friend, the Nimbi of Shrimp.
He didn’t just like being with Justin. He loved it.
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Magnolia Bay Memories
Welcome to Magnolia Bay Book 2 

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Babette de Jongh brings you a bright and hopeful romance filled with:

*People and animals who get a second chance
*A community that makes everyone feel at home
*Friends-to-lovers romance that proves everyone deserves a forever home

Struggling widow Heather Gabriel takes a job at Magnolia Bay's Animal Shelter to provide for her family. She isn't ready to be anything more than colleagues with Adrian Crawford, the shelter's new business consultant. But the shelter's animal communication expert Reva Curtis knows there's more attraction between Heather and Adrian than they let on, and she's determined to bring them together. With the help of Heather's three children and all the animals at Bayside Barn, Heather and Adrian soon realize they can have a future together…if they can let go of the past.

Small town romance will never look the same once you've traveled to Magnolia Bay!

"Charming…a satisfying blend of romance and animal cameos."--DEBBIE BURNS, bestselling author of the Rescue Me series

"Babette de Jongh's books are crafted with heart and humor, roaring heat and cuddly love."--JOANN SKY, author of the Biggest Little Love Story series

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Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay
Welcome to Magnolia Bay Book 1

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Welcome to Magnolia Bay where:

*The animals interfere in their owners' love lives
*Everyone (humans and animals alike) has an opinion about everything
*The neighbor is as infuriating as he is gorgeous
*And a sprinkle of hope is just the right thing to have you believing in love again

Abby Curtis lands on her Aunt Reva's doorstep at Bayside Barn with nowhere to go but up. Learning animal communication from her aunt while taking care of the motley assortment of rescue animals on the farm is an important part of Abby's healing process. She is eager to begin a new life on her own, but she isn't prepared for the magnetism between her and her handsome, stubborn and distracting new neighbor.

Quinn Lockhart snapped up the foreclosed estate next door determined to renovate and flip the beautiful bayou property. It's all part of a plan to make a financial comeback and reconnect with his estranged son. Definitely not part of the plan is the noisy petting zoo next door dragging down his property value. But getting rid of it becomes more difficult when he falls for the lovely and passionate Abby and bonds with an abandoned wolf dog who's mournfully waiting for his family to return. For humans and animals alike, it will take all the courage they can muster to learn to love again. But that's a journey worth taking—with a little help from their furry friends.

You'll fall in love right along with Abby as animals and humans alike find unexpected ways to connect, nurture each other, and thrive.

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**Celebrate National Black Dog Day on Oct 1 with Hear Them Speak!**

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Hear Them Speak
A Twelve-Week Course in Telepathic Animal Communication
by Babette de Jongh
Genre: Nonfiction, Pets, Animal Communication

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Would you like to know what your animal companion is really thinking? If you're holding this book, the ability is literally within your grasp. Hear Them Speak is an engaging and easy-to-follow twelve week course that guides you through the process of discovering your own superpowers of telepathic animal communication. With real-life examples to increase understanding and tasks to help you practice your emerging skills, animal communicator Babette de Jongh walks you through every step of the journey to claim your innate ability to hear them speak.

Amazon * Goodreads


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Babette de Jongh is a telepathic animal communicator, energy healer, Reiki Master, and award-winning romance writer who has taught ballet, yoga, elementary school, and animal communication. Whether it involves a happy-ending romance, a way of self-nurturing, or help in understanding our companions, the cohesive thread that ties all these things together is a desire to save the world, one happy ending at a time.

Babette’s first romance novel, Angel Falls, won two Readers’ Choice awards. In Hear Them Speak, Babette helps humans better understand their animal companions. In Welcome to Magnolia Bay, a romance series from Sourcebooks Casablanca, a telepathic animal communicator conspires with the human characters’ animal companions to help everyone—humans and animals—find forever love.

All this is only the beginning for a late bloomer who is just getting started. To find out more about Babette, everything she does, and everything she’s up to these days, please visit her website at www.BabettedeJongh.com.

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Meet the animals that inspired characters in the Welcome to Magnolia Bay Series!

Book One: Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay:
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These are pictures of my dog Georgia, who stars in Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay
​(and all the other books in the series, too).

Georgia runs the show wherever she goes. Mary Poppins in a fur coat, Georgia insists on having her way, but always (usually) in the sweetest way possible. She hypnotizes humans into doing exactly what she wants, and we all end up doing her bidding, all the while thinking that tossing the ball for an hour was our idea in the first place. Not only did she take over Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay, she insisted on having a starring role in all the other books in the series, too.
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This is a picture of my cat Blue, the inspiration for the cat character Griffie in Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay.

Blue is the inspiration for Griffin aka Griffie. Actually, that’s not 100% true, because Blue is the reincarnation of the first Griffie, but that’s a long story for another day. Blue came to us as a feral kitten with short pure-white fur and huge blue eyes. I had told God that I didn’t want any more long-haired cats, because the first Griffie was so hard to keep groomed. So of course, he came back in disguise. But with good food, a huge vet bill, and lots of love, Blue grew into the 20-pound furball you see here. But while Griffie had to be sedated to brush his long fur, Blue will lie on his back and allow me to brush him for as long as it takes, purring all the while.
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Book Two: Magnolia Bay Memories:

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This is a picture of my cat Glenn, the inspiration for the cat character Winky in Magnolia Bay Memories.

Glenn is named after the character in The Walking Dead because he’s sweet but tough. We found Glenn three days into a road trip to meet friends for a vacation in the Florida Keys. A neuter-release feral cat with a clipped ear and a long-healed broken jaw that was visible even from a distance, he was begging for food on a restaurant patio in Key Largo. He wouldn’t let me pick him up, but he did let me pet him, and I could feel his skin peppered with scabs from cat-fight wounds. I ordered something just for him, and while he ate, I asked him telepathically if he wanted to come and live with us, where he would never be hungry again. “I’ll think about it,” he answered. He wasn’t sure he could trust us. We were only in the beginning of a two-week trip, so I told him that if he decided to come home with us, we’d swing past the restaurant on our way back to pick him up. During our vacation, I checked in with him telepathically every day, showing him images of what life would be like with us. He almost said no because of our dogs, but I assured him that our dogs were friendly and wouldn’t harm him. On our way back home, we had to overshoot the restaurant by an hour to take our friends to the Miami airport, and we had made plans to meet friends for dinner, a few hours north in Tallahassee. My husband was willing to add two hours to our trip to please me, but with his scientific/physicist background, he needed assurance that we weren’t wasting our time. “Are you sure he’ll be there if we double back to get him?” I asked Glenn for assurance, and he promised that if we came back for him, he’d be waiting. And he was, curled up in a chair at the table where we’d sat two weeks before. He allowed me to pick him up and carry him to the car, and after a three-day drive home, he settled in and became part of the family (even though after several years, the dogs are still scared to get too close to him).

Book Three: Coming Home to Magnolia Bay:

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This is a picture of my dog Jed, the inspiration for the dog in Coming Home to Magnolia Bay.
All the cats love to snuggle with Jed.

My dog Jed is the inspiration for Jett, the dog character in Coming Home to Magnolia Bay. I found Jed and his two siblings after they’d been dumped on the side of a country road. I was driving into town when I saw these little ears popping up over the tall grass as the puppies bounded toward my car. I could imagine their little voices calling out, “Hey, wait for us!” I pulled over and got out of the car. At first, I thought, “How cute! They are covered in white spots! I wonder what kind of dogs they are?” They looked, from a distance, like African Spotted Dogs. But as they got closer, I realized that those white spots weren’t fur. They were the crusty, smelly scabs caused by Demodectic mites, also known as mange. I opened the back door of the car and said, “Get in.” The puppies didn’t hesitate. They boiled into the back seat of my car as fast as they could. I drove them straight to the vet, hoping they’d take the puppies, since the vet was (and still is) acting as the local animal shelter. But the vet shook his head. “The mange is too bad. It takes too long and costs too much to treat. They’ll have to be euthanized.” So, of course, I had them all vaccinated, bought the first round of mange treatment, and took them home with me. As soon as the mange cleared up, I found homes for the other two puppies (Jethro and Ellie May). Ellie looked like a chocolate lab, and Jethro was a handsome two-month-old puppy with a sleek black coat and a small white blaze on his chest. But Jed had developed a skin infection, so he was six months old by the time he was ready to adopt-out. By then, he had become just another solid-black, half-grown dog who nobody wanted. Believe me, I tried. I offered Jed to everyone I knew. I tried to give him away at least a hundred times. But nobody wanted a big black dog. So, Jed became my dog. He is, and always has been, a Best Good Boy. But nobody—not even me—recognized it. Because until I finally fell in love with him after a year of resistance, he was just another big black dog nobody wanted.
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86 Comments
Shirley Ann Speakman
8/26/2023 05:56:47 am

I enjoyed the post especially the guest post about Babette's pets, the books all sound wonderful too.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 05:51:49 pm

Hi, Shirley, If you're an animal lover who likes to read a good romance, I think you'll like my books, because animals not-only feature prominently, they have their own POV (point of view) scenes. Because animals have opinions, too!

Reply
Rita Wray
8/26/2023 08:55:34 am

Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 05:54:17 pm

Hi, Rita,

I hope you'll check it out, and let me know what you think! I love hearing from readers.

Babette

Reply
Marcy Meyer
8/26/2023 09:16:17 am

I love a good small town romance. This sounds great.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:02:13 pm

Hi, Marcy,

I'm a fan of small town romance, too. I grew up in a small town, and except for a t0-year stint in Houston, TX (which I also loved, but for different reasons), I've always lived in a small town. Living in a small town is almost like having a huge extended family, where everyone knows everyone else's backstory... in fact, they know everyone's grandparents' backstory ... and secrets are never kept secret for long. It's such fertile ground for storytelling. I hope you'll give my books a try and let me know what you think!

Babette

Reply
Alma Fisher
8/26/2023 09:39:42 am

Looks like a good read

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:25:11 pm

Hi, Alma,

The upcoming ebook release is on preorder for .99, so I hope you'll give it a try before the book goes live (and the price goes up). It's the 3rd book in the series, but each one reads as a standalone. Maybe if you like this one, you'll go back and read the others. I hope so! If you do, let me know what you think.

Babette

Reply
Valerie Seal
8/26/2023 09:56:53 am

Looks good

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:28:28 pm

Hi, Valerie,

I had a blast writing it, and I fell in love with the character of Jett. (The hero tugged at my heart-strings, too.) I hope you'll give it a try.

Babette

Reply
Beyond Comps
8/26/2023 11:00:54 am

Great cover!

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:31:20 pm

I love the cover, too! The cover artist is always good, but she really outdid herself this time. Wait until you see the photo of the dog on the interior first page. He'll really steal your heart.

Babette

Reply
Bea LaRocca
8/26/2023 11:34:07 am

Congratulations on your upcoming book release and thank you for offering the sale price and giveaway, this sounds like a wonderful book and series and I am looking forward to reading all of the stories

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:34:06 pm

Hi, Bea,

Thanks so much for your congratulations on the book release. it's a labor of love, for sure. I hope you will read the books and let me know what you think. If you're a romance reader who loves animals, I think you'll enjoy them.

Babette

Reply
Susan Smith
8/26/2023 11:45:15 am

This sounds like a great Small Town Contemporary Romance read. I love the cover, looks like a wonderful place I would enjoy living.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:41:25 pm

Hi, Susan,

I loved building the world of Magnolia Bay. With every book I add to the series, the town and the characters become richer and more multi-layered. I almost hate taking credit for any of it, because really, it's the characters and the setting that create the story world. They reveal themselves to me as I write. I'm just the transcriptionist. But I don't mean to belittle the work involved. I DO have to apply seat to chair on a regular basis to get the transcribing done. So at least, I can say that I have been somewhat instrumental in creating this story world. If you enjoy the series (and I hope you do), please let me know. My imaginary friends and I will all be happy to take a bow together.

Babette

Reply
Susan Cash
8/29/2023 06:59:04 pm

I love this series so very much!!!

Jon Heil
8/26/2023 12:28:06 pm

Hope it does well

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:49:38 pm

Hi, Jon,

Thanks so much for the well-wishes. I hope I did a good job of portraying the characters and their stories as they presented themselves to me. I hope the book reaches readers who would benefit from reading it, whether that's by giving them an epiphany about how their own animal companions communicate with them, or whether it's just an opportunity to escape into another world for a while. I hope I did the story and the characters the justice they deserve. If I did, all the rest is just icing on the cake. (Butter cream icing, one would hope.)

Thanks so much,

Babette

Reply
wendy hutton
8/26/2023 01:25:48 pm

great cover

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 06:57:24 pm

Hey, Wendy,

I love the cover, too! I got told (at one point, by someone) that I couldn't have a solid-black dog on the cover, because "No one will notice a book with a black dog on the cover."

Oh yeah? Well, here it is...

Let's see if anyone notices.

Babette

Reply
Nancy
8/26/2023 02:05:22 pm

Coming Home to Magnolia Bay by Babette De Jongh sounds like a heart warming story. The cover is very attractive also.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 07:04:23 pm

Hi, Nancy,

I hope you'll read it and tell me if you found it heartwarming. I do know that as I was writing it, the character of Jett revealed such a big heart that even while some of his POV scenes made me laugh, others made me cry.. He reminded me of so many dogs I've known, dogs who give everything of themselves and only ask for love and belonging in return. It's so little, and yet it means so much to them.

I think the human characters are okay, too.

;-)

Babette

Reply
Bonnie
8/26/2023 02:34:43 pm

What a wonderful book! Great cover and excerpt. I'd love to read more. Loved the guest post too.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 07:09:53 pm

Hi, Bonnie,

I can't wait to hear what you think of the book once you've read it. My animal companions are each due a starring role in one of my books (if they haven't had theirs already). I'm writing as fast as I can, in spite of the fact that they're all taking turns lounging on top of the computer keyboard while I try to type. And then there are some, like Georgia, who just take over and become the star of an entire series.

Ain't that just like some dogs? She hogs the couch, too.

Babette

Reply
Jodi Hunter
8/26/2023 03:46:14 pm

Sounds like an amazing series.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 07:13:52 pm

Hi, Jodi,

I've certainly had an amazing time writing it! I'm kind of sad that I'm now working on the first draft of the last book in the series. But hang on... maybe there could be just one more? The whispers are faint, but I do think another cast of characters may be brainstorming their plot line.

Babette

Reply
Sherry
8/26/2023 04:33:12 pm

The blurb sounds really good. I really like the cover and the excerpt.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 07:40:20 pm

Hi, Sherry,

Thanks for taking the time to read the blurb (what a horrible word, blurb, don't you agree?) and the excerpt. I'd rather run the vacuum than write a blurb, and choosing an excerpt is kind of like telling someone which of your animal companions is the prettiest. But I hope that I've piqued your interest enough to encourage you to read the book, and if you do, I hope you'll tell me what you think. I love hearing from readers!

Babette

Reply
Cindy Merrill
8/26/2023 05:45:57 pm

Reminds of home many years ago, before time and progress took it's toll.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 08:03:39 pm

Hi, Cindy,

I know what you mean. It's so sad to drive past what used to be thousands of acres of trees that have given way to "progress." When we first moved to the farm where we live now, we could hear dozens of coyotes singing every night. It was the most beautiful sound, and it uplifted the soul to hear it. They are gone now. (One uncaring neighbor poisoned them all.)

My heart aches for all the animals we humans and our ignorance are squeezing out of existence. But I hope that we will have the chance to right all the wrongs we have done to the animals we were meant to be stewards over. If there is a chance, it will begin with understanding animals, and acknowledging them as sentient beings who feel and love as deeply as we do.

I know that a few romance novels are a paltry beginning, but it's my small contribution. I hope that readers will recognize in my books that our animal companions know more about us and our lives than we often give them credit for.

We owe them so much. I hope it's not too late for us to make amends.

Babette

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David Hollingsworth
8/26/2023 09:56:30 pm

Your pets are so cute!

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Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 08:12:34 pm

Hi, David,

You're so right! They're cute, and they know it! They take advantage of their cuteness, too. Georgia knows how to arrange her expression so I'll give up on whatever I'm trying to do and just throw the ball. I mean, anyway, what was I thinking? Why would anyone want to make their daily word count when the sun is shining, and the ground is warm, and a precious dog needs to play ball?

I'm clearly outnumbered, outsmarted, and outcuted.

But oh well, at least my feet aren't cold.

Babette

Reply
Jamie Martin link
8/26/2023 10:26:43 pm

Do you have any advice for new writers?Jamie Martin

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 10:06:36 pm

Well, Jamie,

Now you've gone and got me started.

You've asked a question that can't be answered in less than 65,000 words. And I'll get on that right away (or at least by mid-October).

But for now, here are ten tiny tips of writing wisdom I've learned in my long-suffering decades of becoming --and sometimes being-- a writer:

1. Apply seat to chair. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. Dictation software is cool. Longhand notebook writing accesses a different part of the brain that is also helpful. Plotting and brainstorming are important, too, but they're not writing. In fact, sometimes they are only a handy excuse to keep from writing. On the days that you actually sit down at your keyboard and write, you are a writer. On those other days, you are only a person who talks about being a writer.

2. Write what you know. If you've already done the research through living, you'll begin writing with an authenticity that can't easily be faked. I taught ballet for years. My first romance novel stood on that platform. I still had to learn how to write by revising that novel over and over and over again, but the underpinnings of the book's foundation were sound, because my protagonist knew what she was talking about..

3. Write about what interests you, because then the research will be easy and fun. I decided years ago to write a series about a fortune teller / Tarot reader in New Orleans. I love New Orleans (it's one of my favorite places), and I've always been interested in learning about psychic abilities. (Not to be confused with telepathy.) In researching that series, I learned how to read Tarot cards, and I learned how to read palms. I still haven't written the books, but I've earned a bunch of free drinks at bars, and now I know some cool stuff I hadn't known before.

4. Write about something you care about. I care about animals. I care about teaching humans to communicate with and understand animals. I care about this enough to keep writing, even when it's hard.

5. Create the space you need to write. When I first started writing, I bought myself a $50 schoolteacher's desk that desperately needed to be refinished. I did the work with steel wool and an even more steely determination to succeed. The still wool worked better. The steely determination wavered quite a bit. But even though I had to rinse my eyes for fifteen minutes after a stray splash of paint thinner, I'm still here, still writing.

6. Create the time you need to write. I've convinced myself that I need long, interrupted swathes of time to settle in, concentrate, and do the work. But I've also managed to convince myself that while that would be nice, I am wrong about needing it. I can also write when I can, even if it's just a half-hour a day. When my kids' nap time was all I can manage, that was still time enough to at least call myself a writer for that one day. Like most worthwhile undertakings, it requires a day-to-day effort.

7. Create the headspace you need to write. It is illegal to shoot poison darts at people who interrupt your thought processes and derail your writing time. But you will have to set boundaries. For adults who don't respect your need for writing time, a "Don't Even Think About It" sign taped to your office door (or the back of your head) may work. When my kids were little, I tacked a "thinking string" across my office door. (Kudos to my author friend Haywood Smith for sharing her idea.) The string meant that whether or not I looked busy (even if I was staring into space) I was thinking about important things and was not to be disturbed unless someone had stopped breathing or was dripping blood.

8. Write for yourself. If you're writing because your mother wants you to, or because someone told you that your fabulous idea would sell millions of copies and make you and everyone you know rich, just forget about it. I mean, really, save yourself and everyone else you know a lot of angst. If you're not doing this for you, and only for you, just stop. It's hard enough when you're doing it for you. Don't try to do it for anyone else, because then you'll just end up hating them. And heaven forbid that you'd agree to write someone else's story because they're not up to the task, even if they're willing to pay you for your time (or even worse, split the nonexistent profits). If it's their story, and they're not willing to write it, well, it's probably not worth writing.

9. Don't let anyone talk you out of being a writer or telling your story. If you have a story to tell, sit your ass down and tell it. For years, people told me that I should pick one thing and do it well. They told me that I could ONLY follow one of my two great passions, or I would be doomed to fail at both. But I loved writing romance, and I believed that telepathic animal communication was an important skill that had to be shared. So screw what those well-meaning people advised. (Love you, but ain't listening.) I did want I wanted. I did

Reply
bn100
8/26/2023 10:47:13 pm

cute cover

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/29/2023 10:08:39 pm

Thanks so much! I love the cover, too.

Babette

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:18:34 am

I know, right? I love the cover, too! I love the sandy bank with the bayou in the foreground.

Reply
Emes
8/26/2023 11:28:30 pm

The animals are so cute!

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:20:34 am

Thanks Emes,

My animals rely on their cuteness. They use it against me every day.

Babette

Reply
Nancy
8/27/2023 03:08:29 am

Congrats on the book

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:21:29 am

Thanks, Nancy!

Babette

Reply
Barbara Montag
8/27/2023 08:34:39 am

Since I am an animal lover, this series looks so good to me!
Thank you for sharing it.

Reply
babettedejongh link
8/30/2023 05:24:48 am

Hi, Barbara,

If you love animals, I think you'll enjoy getting to know the animal characters. If you gitve the books a try, let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Babette

Reply
Cynthia C
8/27/2023 03:08:02 pm

The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:27:42 am

Hi, Cynthia,

Thank you for taking the time to read the excerpt. It's so hard to choose which snippet to share!

Babette

Reply
Kim Kern
8/27/2023 07:03:29 pm

I read how you rescued Jed and the other pups. So glad you gave Jed a nice home. I'm sure he was a wonderful inspiration for your story.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:29:47 am

Hi, Kim.

Thanks for reading about Jed, Jethro, and Ellie May. You're right, Jed and my other animals give me plenty to write about!

Babette

Reply
beth shepherd
8/28/2023 12:04:52 pm

This looks like a great read

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:32:31 am

Hi, Beth,

I hope you'll give it a read and report back. I love hearing from readers and learning what you think, which characters you like, etc.

Babette

Reply
Wendy Jensen
8/28/2023 03:49:59 pm

The book details sound like a great romance. P.S. I love books with dogs in them.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:36:09 am

Hi, Wendy,

I love books with dogs in them, too. I have a stack of books TBR on my bedside table, and they all have dogs on the cover.

Babette

Reply
Diana Hardt
8/29/2023 05:27:49 pm

It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:37:55 am

Hi, Diana,

Thank you for popping in and saying hi! I can't wait to hear back from you when you've had time to read it.

Babette

Reply
Faith Eidse
8/29/2023 05:34:42 pm

No other author brings freshness like this! Babette gives the narrative to the dogs and magical things happen! We see the world through new eyes, new instincts, new feelings and senses. We find we care again, deeply about everyone.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:43:31 am

Hi, Faith,

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about my books. I love writing them. It's that writing bug that won't quit biting me! (I know you know what I mean, because you've got it, too. Barely finish one book before the next one starts nibbling away at you.... I love reading all of your books, too.)

Babette

Reply
Calvin
8/29/2023 05:48:27 pm

Liking the intro to your book. Best wishes.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:44:52 am

Hi, Calvin,

Thanks for the well wishes, and for dropping in to say hi. I hope you give the book a try and let me know what you think.

Babette

Reply
Susan Cash
8/29/2023 06:08:50 pm

I’ve just started reading this book and it is so much fun. Jett the dog is so lovable it makes me want him!! I love the characters so far! Babette has done an awesome Kobe once again!!

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:46:59 am

Hi, Susan,

Thanks for being on my advance reader team. I can't wait to hear your thoughts when you're finished!

Babette

Reply
Ann Fantom
8/29/2023 08:20:35 pm

This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:49:37 am

Hi, Ann,

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll give it a read and let me know what you think! I love the cover too. I think the artist did a good job of recreating the setting I imagined.

Babette

Reply
Jenny Ham
8/29/2023 11:50:05 pm

Sounds good thanks for sharing

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 05:52:00 am

Hi, Jenny,

Thanks for stopping by and giving it a look. I love to hear from readers, so let me know what you think if you have time to read it.

Babette

Reply
Carol G
8/30/2023 09:51:15 am

I don't know all the ins and outs of the Americans with Disabilities Act or the various groups that help getting therapy dogs to those who need them, but I hope you included some info about them in the book.

Reply
Babette de Jongh link
8/30/2023 03:05:23 pm

Hi, Carol,

Thanks for your comment. I was lucky to have a fantastic resource to turn to during the writing of this book -- the director of a nearby Service Dog University -- that trains and matches service dogs with the people who need them. I do include that resource in the acknowledgments for anyone who would like to learn more.

Babette

Reply
Amy F
8/30/2023 11:57:56 am

Beautiful cover. Sounds like a great romance read!

Reply
Debbie P
8/30/2023 03:26:33 pm

This sounds like a wonderful series. Beautiful covers.

Reply
Gina Jones
8/30/2023 07:58:00 pm

I love everything about this series!!! I love the POV of the animals, and that there's lots of dogs, but other animals as well

Reply
Anne Perry
8/31/2023 09:56:27 am

Yes, I would love to know what they are thinking. I have 6 dogs and 1 cat, 2 pigs and chickens.

Reply
Angela Heerde
9/3/2023 08:31:17 pm

I like book details

Reply
Susan Cash
9/5/2023 09:27:14 am

It’s really good too

Reply
Jeanna Massman
9/4/2023 04:50:04 am

I like the cover. It sets the stage for the book.

Reply
Susan Cash
9/5/2023 09:26:44 am

I really read this book so fast. Wish I had more to read.

Reply
Jennifer Newell
9/5/2023 12:49:04 pm

I love EVERYTHING Babette has ever written and all of her characters are funny, smart and cute (both the humans and animals!) I highly recommend this whole series to anyone who loves a smart, sassy small-town romance novel with wonderful animal characters. Every book is a great read!

Reply
Gina Jones
9/6/2023 07:09:55 pm

I am finishing up on my current read and then I am diving in to Coming Home to Magnolia Bay. I'm so excited to read another of these wonderful books!!!

Reply
Angela
9/10/2023 12:01:40 pm

Beautiful cover.

Reply
Jamie N.
9/16/2023 04:21:03 pm

This sounds like my kind of book!

Reply
Kelly D
9/18/2023 02:37:45 pm

The book sounds great and is about a very interesting concept.

Reply
Daniel M
9/21/2023 06:26:06 pm

like the cover

Reply
Diane Sallans
9/23/2023 01:29:39 pm

I've enjoyed several of Babette;s Magnolia Bay books

Reply
Danielle Day
9/23/2023 11:28:28 pm

I like the cover.

Reply
Stephanie Larison
9/25/2023 10:55:54 am

Sounds great, can't wait to read it!

Reply
Dreaa Drake
9/26/2023 02:05:26 am

This sounds like a great book!!

Reply
Billie Williams
9/26/2023 08:36:03 am

Good luck on your new release.

Reply
Sand
9/26/2023 10:01:15 pm

Sounds like a good book!

Reply



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