The Work of Helen Ansell

Dear Gentle Readers,

May I introduce you to the work of Helen Ansell? Her work is immediately recognizable by her vivid use of color and strong Australian influence. Her work is both primitive and complex, dramatic and simple, all at the same time. 

I was drawn to her work because it reminded me so much of the art pieces by our own Parker Kaufman. Bold and geometric, combined with detailed and delicate. Fearless mixes of color and shape and stroke that bring the canvas to life.

Australian-born Helen Ansell loves to paint wildflowers. She has had a affinity for wildflowers since she was a little girl helping her father collect wildflower seeds and growing them in a remote Aboriginal community outside of Wiluna, Australia.

Some of her wildflower paintings have been translated in textile designs. On her Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/helenansellart , Helen shows us her process of turning photos of the natural fauna of her country into works of art. 

If the art of this amazing young woman has sparked your curiosity at all, please follow the links to learn more about her and how she creates her beautiful work.

www.helenansell.com/

www.form.net.au/project/helen-ansell-exhibition-beyond-the-fence-line/

www.andrewsand.co/helen-ansell-fine-artist/

https://twitter.com/helenansell

None of these photos are mine. I claim nothing here. They came from the links above.

Hugs,

Carol 

Unleashed Love by Jackie Marilla

Dear Gentle Readers,

This morning I have for you a review of the first in a new series called Sheltered Love, a new anthology revolving around an animal shelter. This one, Unleashed Love by Jackie Marilla, is delightful!
Looking for a great beach read? This is it.

Hugs,
Carol

 Journey Back into Love and Pet Ownership, July 20, 2015

By Carol Ann Kauffman

Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Unleashed Love (Sheltered Love Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)

Unleashed Love is the story of Glenda, a sensitive widow, and her journey back
into love and pet ownership. While volunteering at an animal shelter, she meets a man she thinks she could love. All goes well... until the adult children enter the picture, one dragging his ex-wife. A great summer read. 

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Unleashed-Love-Sheltered-Book-ebook/dp/B011RWP8BK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1437433664&sr=1-1&keywords=Unleashed+Love

LONG ROAD HOME by Mary Jane Morgan

Good morning Gentle Readers,

This morning the lovely and talented Mary Jane Morgan has agreed to a return visit to tell us a little more about Long Road Home, her new book in the Crystal Springs Homecoming Romance series, which has been described as a western version of Romeo and Juliet. It's been gathering great reviews from lovers of romance and western books alike   Take a look at it!

Hugs,
Carol

JACKET COPY: LONG ROAD HOME

Megan Swearingen’s life changes forever with the death of her father. Leaving college, she returns home to find her younger sister mute with shock, her mother too depressed to function, and their beloved Thoroughbred horse ranch on the verge of going under. She’s barely arrived when she’s forced to accept help from Brett Dawson -- the man who once broke her heart -- when a marauding mountain lion threatens one of the prized horses they depend on for survival.

Brett would rather be anywhere but the Swearingen ranch. Caught between his feelings for Megan and the powder keg of the ongoing feud between their families, he feels his only choice is to help Megan, regardless of the consequences. If it weren’t for Brett’s father, Megan’s dad might still be alive, and she wouldn’t be here now sacrificing her future to save her family’s ranch.

As the long-simmering attraction between Megan and Brett resurfaces, it is threatened almost before it begins by dark family secrets swirling around them -- secrets that turn to danger and could very well destroy not only their new beginning, but the lives of everyone they both love.

Excerpt:

She was tough all right. Made of sterner stuff than either her old man or mom. She was also pretty. Her thick blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, emphasizing her high cheek bones and big green eyes. Then there was her mouth, full and lush even though it was set in a scowl.

He’d had a taste – a big taste -- of that mouth once, but then he’d come to his senses and run like hell because little Megan Swearingen was way too young for him to be messing with. Way too young. At sixteen, she’d been the prettiest thing he’d ever seen in his entire twenty four years.

He shook himself back to reality. “A friend of mine has a rescue Doberman. About two years old. You could get her for practically nothing.”

“Great. That’s about what I’ve got right now.”

He winced. No one should have to go through what she was, but she didn’t have to take it out on him. Or maybe she did. After all, his dad had probably started this whole ugly mess.

“I’ll bring her over tomorrow. Let you check her out if you want.”

She shot him a look that would have made a lesser man cringe. “Just give me the number. I’ll go see her myself. Maybe.”

So much for trying to be helpful. Megan reminded him of his late fiancé, stubborn as they come and out to prove to the world she could take on anything that came her way.  Brett’s stomach tightened remembering Emily. She’d taken on the world all right, and it had cost her her life.

Megan needed him right now, whether she would admit it or not, and he would help her get through this evening, because he seriously doubted she could handle this alone. And she shouldn’t have to.

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Long-Road-Crystal-Springs-Coming-ebook/dp/B00O7RNDRE/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1415146419&sr=1-5&keywords=long+road+home

Brie Paisley WORSHIPPED Promotional Tour

Running a business and trying to keep the past in the past isn't so easy.

Riley Blake thinks she has it all: a nice house, a great friend, and her own bakery. Her world turns upside down when an incident with a hot stranger happens right outside the local coffee shop. Riley is instantly attracted to the dark and mysterious man.

Fate steps in yet again, and Riley finds herself with the dark and mysterious man again at a local bar. His name is Isaac.

Isaac has his own business with his partner, Conner. Riley doesn't think too much of the two having more than a brother type friendship. When Riley becomes attracted to Conner, she is torn over what she should do.

Isaac, however, lets Riley know he is willing to share. Shocked and utterly confused, Riley does as she is told and begins a relationship with not one, but two men. Everything was great until Isaac and Conner's past comes back to haunt them and Riley ends up in the middle. Just when she thinks it cant get any worse, Riley’s ex comes back into the picture and she is thrown back into her past. Can love really conquer all? Or will this be just another sad love story?

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Worshipped+by+Brie+Paisley

Coming Soon!!!
BOOK TWO  
BETRAYED

He is darkness. He is everything that should make me run and never look back. I should run. I should leave and forget everything he makes me want and feel. I have tried running, only to be caught and brought back. Why does this man want me? Why does he want to claim everything I have? 

I just want to be free. I want and need my freedom from him. 

I need freedom from his darkness. 

I need freedom from his chains that bind me. 

I need freedom from falling for the man that I know is a monster. 

She is light. Everything that is good while I am consumed with darkness. She is my salvation from the monster that dwells inside of me. I can’t help but want her. I can’t help but need her. I have to consume her in every way possible. She is mine whether she wants to believe it or not. She wants her freedom from me. But what she doesn’t see, I am the very thing she wants and needs. 

Freedom to be herself. 

Freedom to let go of her pain. 

Freedom to fall for the one man that sets her body on fire. 

Body, mind, and soul I will claim what is mine. 

Brie Paisley is a small town gal from Mississippi. She always wanted to write at a young age and was always filling journals with her thoughts and short stories. Brie started with the idea of Worshipped a year ago and with the encouragement of her husband and sister in law, she was able to write her first book. When she is not writing, you can find her reading a good book, painting, scrapbooking, or watching a good movie with her husband and her boxer.