Please help us give a very warm welcome back to Gayle M. Irwin. Gayle is here to share her Clean Contemporary Holiday Romance, Rhiann’s Rescue with us. Welcome, Gayle! We are all excited to hear more about Rhiann’s Rescue.
Senior Pets and Holiday Romance
By Gayle M. Irwin
The sad, amber-colored eyes gazed at me from the cage. I bent down and coaxed the older cocker spaniel to come to me, and after he obliged, my fingers scratched under his chin. He leaned close to the wire, and I ruffled his ears. Two days later, I brought him home.
His name was Cody, and he was 10 on that March day in 2008 when I adopted him. He became the best birthday present I ever gave myself. He became good friends to my already-adopted blind dog, Sage, who was then seven years old. They spent time in the back yard, chasing squirrels together. They traveled to national parks, to my parents’ home in Montana, and on treks to our mountain cabin. When Sage passed in 2012 due to cancer, Cody mourned her absence, right along with my husband and I. More than a year later, when we adopted another springer spaniel named Mary, Cody welcomed her graciously. He lived three more years after Mary joined our family, passing away on a cold January day in 2016. Cody was nearly 18 years of age. He brought joy, love, and loyalty into the Irwin household.
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, and in addition to touting the wonders of pet adoption, including adopting senior pets, I’m excited to share my pet rescue holiday romance novella, Rhiann’s Rescue, with you. This story is the prequel to my Pet Rescue Romance series, which includes Rescue Road, released in October 2019, and Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, released in May 2020.
In Rhiann’s Rescue, my heroine, freelance writer Rhiann Kelly, transports dogs for rescue organizations and cares for her elderly grandmother. They live in Spokane, Washington and spend winter months in Arizona. Rhiann dreams of starting her own animal rescue sanctuary. Readers will meet several dogs and the grandmother’s beloved senior rescue cat, Poppy, in the story. My two kitties are more than 15 years old; therefore, I wove in an older cat and released the book during Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. The story also introduces readers to a potential love interest for Rhiann – art gallery owner Elias Griffin, who learns about pet rescue and adoption from her. My passion for writing and for pet rescue and adoption is combined in this book as well as in the novel, Rescue Road.
I’ve been a pet rescue and adoption advocate for decades My animals are adopted – the two cats and two dogs (a Shih Tzu named Jeremiah, who is “featured” in Rescue Road, and a springer spaniel named Sadie). Animals provide love and loyalty, and therefore, I think pets fit in beautifully with a romance story.
I support pet rescues, including donating a percentage of book sales to different organizations. About 6.5 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters and rescues every year, according to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and nearly 1.5 million still die in animal shelters. This is a primary reason I weave pet rescue and adoption into my romance books and donate to animal welfare groups.
I hope you enjoy learning more about my new holiday novella, Rhiann’s Rescue!
About Rhiann’s Rescue:
Rhiann Kelly dreams of starting an animal rescue sanctuary, and her beloved grandmother desires to see her achieve that dream. However, they don’t agree on when or where. Because of the older woman’s health, Rhiann thinks it best they stay near large cities; Grams wants to return to Montana, where she was born and raised. During their annual winter trip to Arizona, the two women clash once again over relocating … as well as about Rhiann’s lack of desire to date and potentially end up with another broken heart. However, when art gallery owner and nature photographer Elias Griffin steps into her life, Rhiann reconsiders. Can she maintain her decision to not become romantically involved with someone again and keep her eyes fixed on helping animals and caring for her grandmother, or will she decide Elias is worth the risk of possible heartbreak?
Buy Links Rhiann’s Rescue:
Rhiann’s Rescue is available in e-book format for .99 cents on various platforms including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. The holiday novella is also available in print format from Amazon.
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pEqEzI
- Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3yzgYJ
Excerpt from Rhiann’s Rescue:
Rhiann Kelly sat in the bay window, her knees pulled up near her chin. Steamers of apricot, peach, and tangerine flooded the eastern sky, although many of Spokane’s high-rise condos and commercial buildings blocked her view. Her hand surrounded a steaming cup of coffee and a crackling fire blazed in the living room hearth, helping thwart the chill from the January day.
She sighed as she gazed at the dawn.
“Why do I do this to myself?” Rhiann murmured. “Happens every time.”
The blind date she had last night went as well as the one she’d agreed to six months ago – horribly – and resurrected memories of him. Brandon, the man she had planned to marry more than a decade ago.
“I’m getting too old for this,” Rhiann muttered as she continued staring at the awakening day.
She took a sip of coffee and then resumed talking to herself, a note of determination in her voice.
“Enough is enough. No more dates. I don’t care which of Grams’ friend’s grandsons those old ladies conspire to set me up with. It’s pets and writing for me … forever.”
She took another deep breath and squared her shoulders. Poppy, the longhaired Sealpoint Persian she and Grams adopted nearly twelve years ago , hopped onto the window seat, and rubbed her cheek against Rhiann’s feet. The 40-year-old woman smiled as the purring cat stretched toward her.
“Hey, there, sweet girl,” Rhiann said, scratching Poppy’s cream-colored chin. “The single life has been good for you, and it has, and will continue to be, good for me, right?”
The cat massaged Rhiann’s face with her own.
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Smile on his face, the man asked, “So what do you do that makes you love your work?”
Rhiann closed the laptop. “I’m a writer.”
“Really? Awesome! I’m a nature photographer and art gallery owner.” He extended his hand. “Elias Griffin.”
She shook his hand. “Rhiann Kelly.”
“Rhiann? A unique, beautiful name.”
“Elias – that’s a name a person doesn’t often hear.”
“Technically, I’m Elias Griffin the third. However, since my father and grandfather have already passed on, I dropped the more formal version.”
“I’m sorry they’ve passed. So have mine.”
“And I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Kelly – or is it Mrs.?”
“You were right the first time,” Rhiann responded, maintaining her smile.
“Would you mind if I sit for a few moments, Miss Kelly?”
Rhiann shook her head and responded, “No, please. Have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
He chose the chair closest to her. Rhiann placed her laptop in a blue, green, and yellow tote bag and looked at her visitor. Dressed in a short-sleeved green polo shirt and khaki pants, the dark brown-haired man appeared more dressed for the golf course than the pool. She pondered his presence in this 55-and-older community. Being Grams’ caregiver allowed Rhiann to stay here.
“So, do you have family here, Mr. Griffin?” He gave her a quizzical look. “You don’t seem to fit the required age group.”
He smiled. “Neither do you, Miss Kelly.”
“I take care of my grandmother, so when we come here during the winter, I can stay with her.”
“My mother is giving snowbirding a try for the first time. She came down the first of the year. I have a home in Mesa with an art gallery in downtown Phoenix and one in Tucson. I visit Mother whenever I can.”
About the Author:
Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults. Her clean, contemporary romance series, Pet Rescue Romance, consists of Rescue Road, released November 2019, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, released in May 2020, and a recently released holiday novella, Rhiann’s Rescue, the series’ prequel. A short story, Gram’s Legacy, is available as a free e-book on various book-selling platforms, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including the importance of pet rescue and adoption. An animal advocate, Gayle volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwinauthor.com.
Follow Gayle on Social Media:
- Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin
- Pinterest (under Waggin’ Tales): www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin
- Twitter: wyoauthor1
- Author Website: https://gaylemirwinauthor.com/
- Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/gayleirwin